Impact of Long-term Systemic Corticosteroid Therapy on Immune Response to the Influenza Vaccine: A Review of the Literature—How about COVID-19 Vaccine

Abstract

Corticosteroids have been widely applied in the treatment of various diseases, and patients exposed to corticosteroid therapy are at higher risk of infections, including the influenza, than others. Influenza vaccination are recommended for patients treated with steroids, while its efficacy and safety may be influenced by the immunosuppression induced by steroids. Therefore, we conducted an updated literature review of immune responses against influenza virus on patients treated with systemic corticosteroids to assess whether patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid therapy have developed an adequate antibody response. Findings from this review assume that influenza vaccine works safely and efficiently among patients with long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy at a low dose, 10mg/day might be a boundary value. Further studies are needed.