Prevalence and Safety of COVID-19 Vaccination in Community-Dwelling People with Dementia: Findings from a Tertiary Memory Clinic in Italy

J Alzheimers Dis. 2022;87(4):1467-1474. doi: 10.3233/JAD-220077.

Abstract

This study aimed to explore the prevalence and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in individuals with dementia. Patients with mild cognitive impairment or dementia were recruited at a tertiary memory clinic, from March 15 to September 15, 2021. Information on COVID-19 vaccination and adverse events experienced after vaccine administration were collected from caregivers. Two-hundred-seventy subjects were finally recruited. Among them, 253 (93.7%) had received the vaccine and only 69 (27.3%) experienced adverse events. Cognitive and behavioral changes following immunization were only rarely reported. COVID-19 vaccination is safe and well-tolerated in patients with cognitive impairment who should be prioritized in the vaccination campaign.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cognitive impairment; SARS-CoV-2; dementia; vaccination; vaccines.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Dementia* / epidemiology
  • Dementia* / psychology
  • Humans
  • Independent Living
  • Prevalence
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Vaccination / adverse effects
  • Vaccines*

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • Vaccines