Evaluating the Immune Response to COVID-19 Vaccination in B-cell Depleted Patients

You may be eligible to participate in a free and confidential research study investigating how individuals taking immune medications respond to COVID19 vaccination. The Yale MS Center is looking for volunteers who:

• Are 18 years old or older
• Are planning to get vaccinated against COVID19 when able to do so
• Meet one of the following criteria:
  • have multiple sclerosis
  • have an autoimmune blistering disease
  • healthy individuals
• For patients with autoimmune diseases, must be EITHER:
  • taking rituximab or ocrelizumab
  • taking no immune medications

Study participants will donate blood five times over a timeframe of 6 months. The first blood draw would occur before the first COVID19 vaccination. Some participants will also undergo skin biopsies. All participants will complete surveys to evaluate any symptoms they may experience. Immune cells will be studied in the laboratory to help us better understand how individuals taking B-cell depleting medications respond to COVID19 vaccination. Participants will be compensated.