May 11, 2021

A new study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology by researchers at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital showed low rates of vaccinations among people with lupus covered by Medicaid for illnesses like flu, pneumonia, herpes that could be prevented with vaccines.

Of 45,654 Medicaid beneficiaries with SLE, less than 10% had received vaccinations. Among 1,290 patients who had been to the Emergency Room or admitted to the hospital for an illness that could have been preventable with a vaccine, 93% of these hospital visits happened in patients who had not been vaccinated.  Black patients were at 22% greater risk for ER visits or hospital stays than White patients.