Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a very rare, severe disorder that starts with flu-like symptoms, followed by a painful rash that commonly spreads, blisters, and sheds.

A more severe form of SJS is called toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and it involves reactions on more than 30% of the skin surface and extensive damage to the mucous membranes.‍

Infections like pneumonia are the most common cause of SJS in children. Medications are the most common cause in adults. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the main COVID-19 vaccines are associated with SJS or TEN.

Comparatively, approximately 1 in 5 individuals will develop a skin rash associated with COVID-19 illness. COVID-19 rashes can be hives, rashes caused by injured or inflamed blood capillaries or “COVID fingers or toes” (known as chilblains), which look like reddish or purplish bumps on the fingers or toes.

SJS and TEN can be hard to distinguish from another skin disease called Erythema multiforme (EM). Erythema multiforme is usually set off by a viral infection (most commonly Herpes simplex virus, but also COVID-19). It looks like a more typical rash with bullseye-shaped lesions. These rashes can still result in significant debilitation and hospitalization.

There is currently no evidence that SJS is a side effect of the COVID-19 disease or the COVID-19 vaccines. Data indicate that receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is safer all around than risking natural infection and potential negative skin reactions that could emerge as a result of infection. 

Some misinformation has been spreading about the risks of SJS from the COVID-19 vaccines, and those claims are without evidence.

In a systematic review examining a potential association between SJS and vaccination, no significant association was found. Though SJS may be a possible rare adverse reaction to certain vaccines, vaccination is widely considered safe and important for saving lives. A licensed physician can help patients understand if they are in the rare group that should be medically exempt from getting a particular vaccine.

For a patient who has recently experienced SJS/TEN or is survivor of SJS/TEN, the general recommendation is that it is safer to get a COVID-19 vaccine than to risk getting infected. This is because the COVID-19 vaccines induce a predictable, controlled immune response against the COVID-19 spike protein. That response prevents the risk of an extreme inflammatory response that is seen in some patients who have severe COVID-19. As a result, receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is likely safer overall for current or past SJS/TEN patients than going through acute COVID-19 infection.

The Stevens Johnson Syndrome Foundation states that genetic factors predisposing one to SJS/TEN are specific to a specific drug or chemical, leaving no reason to believe that someone who has had SJS would be at increased risk of an adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. However, individuals who fall in this category should consult with a care provider, particularly as the immune response to COVID-19 vaccines has not yet been widely studied in immunocompromised individuals or those on high doses of steroid medications.

Scientific and clinical studies are continuing to understand the risks associated with COVID-19 vaccines (including rare allergic regions and the unlikely risk of SJS/TEN). The COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by regulatory agencies are widely considered safe for adults over the age of 18 and are important for saving lives.

Approved COVID-19 vaccines have been rigorously tested in clinical trials for safety, with recognition that the participants in these studies are less diverse than in the general population. Currently, with millions of diverse people receiving COVID-19 vaccines around the world, there are programs in place to carefully monitor adverse effects including rare allergic reactions. Clinical trials have also begun to test the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in children under 18, such as Moderna’s kidCOVE study which began dosing participants between the ages of 6 months to 12 years of age in March 2021.