News

The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine has received emergency use authorization from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). The National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Group is reviewing the vaccine’s clinical trial data and will provide guidance for its use for people with MS as soon as possible.

Read the advisory group’s guidance about the mRNA vaccines. Check our COVID-19 webpage for more information about COVID-19 and MS.

Who Is Reviewing
People living with MS are seeking peace of mind on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. In response, the Society convened a group of expert researchers and medical professionals to review the available science and make fact-based recommendations.

MS neurologists and experts

• Nancy Sicotte, MD, FAAN—Chair, National MS Society’s National Medical Advisory Committee, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, USA
• Brenda Banwell, MD— Chair of MS International Federation International Medical and Scientific Advisory Board (IMSB) – University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Amit Bar-Or, MD, FRCPC—President, International Society for Neuroimmunology - University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Jorge Correale, MD-- Raul Carrea Institute for Neurological Research, FLENI, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Anne Cross, MD, FAAN—Washington University and Secretary of Board of Governors of the Consortium of MS Centers, USA
• Jaime Imitola, MD, FAAN—University of Connecticut, UConn Health, USA
• Dorlan Kimbrough, MD—Duke University, USA
• Avindra Nath, MD—National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, USA
• Scott Newsome, DO, MSCS, FAAN, FANA—Johns Hopkins University and President of the Board of Governors of the Consortium of MS Centers, USA
• Penny Smyth, MD, FRCPC—University of Alberta, Canada
• Rachael Stacom, MS, ANP-BC, MSCN—Independence Care System, USA

Staff from MS Partner Organizations

• Julie Fiol, RN, MSCN—National MS Society, USA
• Pamela Kanellis—MS Society of Canada
• Julie Kelndorfer—MS Society of Canada
• Hope Nearhood, MPH, PMP—National MS Society, USA
• Leslie Ritter—National MS Society, USA