Disseminated Varicella-Zoster Virus Infections Following mRNA-Based COVID-19 Vaccination.

The novel messenger RNA (mRNA)–based COVID-19 vaccines protect individuals from SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe forms of the disease.1 Clinical trials data and observational evidence have reported diverse cutaneous responses to these vaccines, including local injection site erythema, urticaria, and morbilliform eruptions.2 Delayed localized hypersensitive reactions have also been reported; however, these do not preclude subsequent vaccination, emphasizing that serious cutaneous reactions to the vaccines are rare.3 We report 2 cases of de novo disseminated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, without expansion from a preceding dermatomal presentation, after receiving an mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine in patients who were not actively on immunosuppression.