Celiac Disease and COVID-19

March 2022

Two expert authors and clinicians with decades of experience answer questions about COVID-19, celiac disease and autoimmunity: Alessio Fasano, MD, Director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts; and Dr. Steven Plogsted, BS, PharmD, BCNSP, CNSC, FASPEN, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist (retired) at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.

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January 2022

Dr. Lael Yonker, pediatric pulmonologist and co-founder of the Pediatric COVID-19 Biorepository at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, addresses questions about COVID-19 and MIS-C with Susie Flaherty, Communications Director at the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children.

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November 2021

The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease (SSCD) released the following statement on COVID-19 vaccines and children:

With the news that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 5-11, we have received inquiries about the advisability of proceeding with vaccination in this age group. We fully agree with the CDC recommendation that everyone ages 5 and older get a COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against COVID-19. This includes individuals with celiac disease.

Although the risk of severe COVID-19 is far lower in children as compared to adults, widespread transmission of this virus, particularly since the development of the Delta variant, has resulted in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths among children in the United States. Vaccination in this age group has been shown to be highly safe and effective, and is the strongest tool we have to prevent transmission and severe illness. To date, there is no evidence to suggest that people with celiac disease are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 or of the vaccine having a different safety or effectiveness profile in people with celiac disease. Additionally, there is no gluten in any of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Patients with concerns about vaccination and their particular circumstance should speak with their health care provider. We urge the public to proceed with COVID-19 vaccination promptly.

March 2021

Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic requires understanding variations in the human immune system, how different groups are affected by the virus, and how we can leverage science to develop targeted vaccines to protect us.

On March 25, 2021, Dr. Ofer Levy, Director of the Precisions Vaccine Program in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Boston Children's Hospital, and Dr. Lael Yonker, pediatric pulmonologist and co-founder of the Pediatric COVID-19 Biorepository at Massachusetts General Hospital, led the discussion to help attendees understand what is known about the COVID-19 virus today and how new developments will help to contain community spread of the virus.

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Click here to read the Q&A from this webinar.

December 2020

In this video, Dr. Alessio Fasano of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment presents the science behind the recently approved COVID-19 vaccines. He also answers FAQs on COVID-19 vaccination and celiac disease.

Note: in the Q&A, Dr. Fasano states that the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain gluten. He also discusses concerns around the efficacy of the vaccine in patients with celiac disease. Please watch the whole video!

The Society for the Study of Celiac Disease shared a statement on the COVID-19 vaccine. This statement concludes with, "As the safety and efficacy data on Covid vaccination has emerged, there is no evidence to suggest that people with celiac disease would be more prone to an adverse effect of vaccination. Celiac disease is not considered an allergy, and by itself does not prompt additional precaution when proceeding with vaccination. Patients with concerns about vaccination and their particular circumstance should speak with their health care provider. We will undergo Covid-19 vaccination as soon as it is offered to us, and we urge our patients to do so."

We know many of you are worried about COVID-19 and how it may affect people with celiac disease. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that someone with well-controlled celiac disease would be more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the general population. People with active celiac disease may be more susceptible to infections in general.

Read the Q&A from the Latest Guidance on Celiac Disease and COVID-19 webinar NCA co-hosted with the Celiac Research Program at Harvard Medical School on September 23, 2020.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease and, in and of itself, is not considered an immunocompromising condition. People with celiac disease should follow the guidelines for COVID-19 from their health care provider as well as federal, state and local health authorities.