COVID-19 vaccines in patients with chronic liver disease.

The COVID 19 pandemic has caused mayhem globally since the beginning of 2020. Due to the immune dysfunction inherent to cirrhosis and the poor general condition, patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) are at higher risk of mortality and morbidity due to COVID-19. Recently a number of vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 have been granted approval for emergency use around the globe. Although the phase 2/3 trials of these vaccines show them to be safe and effective in the general population, data in patients with CLD is scarce. The number of patients with CLD enrolled into these trials is small; no liver related adverse effects have been reported yet. Various liver societies have come up with guidelines on vaccination in this population and recommend vaccination on a priority basis. Trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the COVID vaccines are under way and are likely to provide valuable insight into this matter.