With COVID-19 vaccination programs underway in many countries, we answer some of the key questions rheumatologists may have, drawing on recommendations from the main professional organizations.

Findings from the Euro-COVIMID study suggest that the seroprevalence and effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases are in line with those in the general population, and inflammation may be a risk factor for developing symptomatic COVID-19.

In patients with chronic inflammatory arthritis, biologics and JAK inhibitors are associated with a reduced risk for confirmed or highly suspected COVID-19, but glucocorticoids are associated with an increased risk, according to a survey of patients in Northern Italy.

Patients with rheumatic diseases from racial minority groups are more likely to experience severe outcomes if they develop COVID-19 than White patients, as is seen for the general population, US data show.

Observational study findings from Spain show that some but not all rheumatic diseases are associated with an increased risk for hospital-diagnosed COVID-19 and the risk is influenced by age and previous therapies.

The prevalence of rheumatic diseases is low among patients admitted to the intensive care unit with severe COVID-19, researchers report.

Study results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance suggest that corticosteroid use at moderate-to-high doses may be associated with an increased risk for hospitalization among people with rheumatic diseases and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Retrospectively collected data suggest that patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases from the Hubei province in China had a greater susceptibility to COVID-19 infection than their family members living in the same household during the outbreak.

COVID-19 vaccination should be actively promoted for women with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, say researchers.

Discontinuation of mycophenolate mofetil for at least 10 days is associated with an improved antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination among people with rheumatic diseases, research suggests.

Findings from three studies provide further support for the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines in young people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

The proportion of people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases experiencing severe COVID-19 has declined since the beginning of the pandemic, particularly during the recent Omicron wave, US researchers report.

They note that “[n]o recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines in [paediatric rheumatology patients] are yet included in these recommendations, as studies were still ongoing by the time of the search.”

Holding methotrexate treatment for 2 weeks following administration of a booster dose of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 significantly improves the humoral immune response to vaccination, suggest findings from a randomized controlled trial.

At the EULAR 2022 Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark, two experts debated whether COVID-19 will have a lasting effect on rheumatology clinical practice.

Research from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance has identified a number of factors, including diagnosis and vaccine type, that are associated with flare risk following vaccination among people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

People on immunomodulatory therapy have similar rates of breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection to healthy controls, with a reduced risk seen in those with prior infection or seroconversion after vaccination, research suggests.