The National Psoriasis Foundation’s COVID-19 task force has updated its guidelines (NPF COVID-19 Task Force). The guidelines were developed by a panel of experts consisting of 18 dermatology, rheumatology, epidemiology, infectious diseases and critical care physicians. The task force has issued a strong suggestion that anyone who has access to a vaccine should receive one.

Dr. Joel M. Gelfand, professor of dermatology and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and co-chair task force recommend “that patients with psoriatic disease, should receive an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it becomes available to them and that patients who are to receive a mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine continue their biologic or oral therapies for psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis during the vaccine period.”

Additionally, Dr. Gelfand stated “Based on evidence to date, it does not appear that psoriasis treatments meaningfully impact the risk of COVID-19. We do not know if psoriasis treatments will meaningfully alter the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, but based on prior vaccine research, we do not think psoriasis treatments will meaningfully impact vaccine efficacy.”

Currently, all recommendations are for patients on systemic treatments (oral and injectable) for psoriasis to be vaccinated for COVID-19 with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines and that they should not interrupt treatment to get vaccinated.

At SullivanDermatology we strongly urge our patients get vaccinated when it becomes available to them. Dr. Sullivan himself has been vaccinated and is happy to speak to anyone who has any concerns about vaccination.