COVID-19 vaccination and herpes zoster

The recent coronavirus (COVID-19) is a rapidly spreading multisystemic disease with a broad spectrum of cutaneous manifestations. Recently, DNA-based/RNA-based vaccines, inactivated vaccines, and non-replicating viral vector vaccines have been manufactured to reduce viral transmission and attenuate the morbidity and mortality of COVID-19. The neurotropic virus of varicella-zoster can reactivate spontaneously or in response to a trigger such as trauma, fever, or immunosuppression. Recently, COVID-19 infection was assumed as a potential trigger as well. Up to now, 91 cases of herpes zoster have been reported after COVID-19 vaccinations. The present study reported a case of a 69-year-old woman from Iran. She had received an Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine 5 days before the skin eruption. A clinical diagnosis of herpes zoster infection was confirmed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for varicella zoster DNA. Oral acyclovir 800 mg five times a day together with gabapentin 300 mg every night resulted in the resolution of the lesions in 2 weeks with no sequelae. The present study then discussed the potential contribution of vaccination against COVID-19 and the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus.