Yellow fever vaccination in multiple sclerosis: A retrospective single-centre case series - 05/11/26

Doi : 10.1016/j.neurol.2026.10.006

G. de la Fournière ^a, E. Maillart ^b, E. Januel ^c,^d, C. Papeix ^c,^e, C. Louapre ^b,^f, A.-L. Dubessy ^b, D. Laplaud ^g, R. Debs ^b, Y. Nadjar ^b, V. Pourcher ^a,^h,⁎

^a Infectious Diseases Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université, AP–HP, Paris, France

^b Neurology Department, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Sorbonne Université, AP–HP, Paris, France

^c Neurology Department and Clinical Research Unit, Hôpital Fondation A.-de-Rothschild, Paris, France

^d Inserm, Team PEPITES, Institut Pierre-Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France

^e Inserm UMRS1144, University Paris-Cité, 75006 Paris, France

^f Clinical Investigation Centre, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France

^g Neurology Department, Nantes, France

^h Inserm U1136, Pierre-Louis Epidemiology and Public Health Institute (iPLESP), Paris, France

^⁎ Corresponding author . Infectious Diseases Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 85, boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France. Infectious Diseases Department, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière 85, boulevard de l’Hôpital Paris 75013 France

Sous presse. Épreuves corrigées par l'auteur. Disponible en ligne depuis le Thursday 05 November 2026

Abstract

Objective

To describe the clinical outcomes and safety of yellow fever vaccination (YFV) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the management of YFV according to the different disease modifying therapies (DMTs) around vaccination.

Methods

Single-center retrospective observational study conducted at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital, Paris. All patients who followed for a central nervous system demyelinating disease and who received YFV between 2019 and 2024 were included.

Results

Twenty-six patients were included: 25 with MS and one with MOG-antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Median age at vaccination was 34.5 years (range 22–58), and 21/26 (80.8%) were women. Two patients with relapsing-remitting MS experienced a clinical relapse within six months after YFV; both also had radiological activity. Brain MRI within six months after vaccination was available for only 8 patients; therefore the remaining patients could not be classified as free of radiological activity. Travel was the main reason for vaccination in 24/26 patients (92.3%): 17/26 (65.4%) had already planned a travel and 7/26 (26.9%) were vaccinated in anticipation of future travel, before the introduction of an immunosuppressive therapy. In the remaining 2 patients, YFV was a catch-up vaccination before the introduction of an immunosuppressive drug. No serious adverse event was documented in the medical records.

Conclusion

No unexpected safety signal was identified in this small retrospective cohort pf patients with MS. Two relapses occurred after YFV in patients with potential confounding factors, including treatment interruption, MS activity before YFV and the postpartum period.

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Keywords : Yellow fever vaccination, Multiple sclerosis, Demyelinating diseases

Plan

Introduction

Materials and methods

Study design and entry criteria

Statistical analysis

Results

Discussion

☆	Given her role as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, the author Caroline Papeix was not involved in the peer-review process of this article, nor did she have access to any information regarding this process. She did not participate in the decision-making regarding the article.