New Study Finds Pausing Arthritis Medications May Not Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Response

A new study co-authored by Kevin Winthrop, professor at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health and principal investigator of the Center for Infectious Disease Studies, provides important guidance for patients with inflammatory arthritis who receive COVID-19 vaccine booster doses. Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the multicenter COVER randomized clinical trial evaluated whether temporarily stopping certain arthritis medications, known as biologic and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor therapies, would improve the body’s immune response to COVID-19 vaccination.

The study followed 840 patients with inflammatory arthritis and found that pausing these medications for two weeks after vaccination did not significantly improve antibody responses compared with continuing treatment as prescribed. However, patients who stopped their medications were more than twice as likely to experience a disease flare, highlighting potential risks associated with interrupting care.

Public Health Impact: Supporting Evidence-Based Vaccine Recommendations

These findings have important implications for both patients and healthcare providers. By showing that routine interruption of biologic and JAK inhibitor therapies is unlikely to enhance COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness, the research helps inform evidence-based vaccination guidance for people living with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases. The study also underscores the importance of balancing infection prevention with ongoing disease management, a key public health priority for populations with chronic health conditions.