Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence
Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence
The Multiple Sclerosis Centers of Excellence (MSCoE) are dedicated to furthering the understanding of multiple sclerosis (MS), its impact on Veterans, and effective treatments to help manage MS. By partnering with Veterans, caregivers, health care professionals, MS advocates, Veteran service organizations, and community health care institutes, MSCoE strives to minimize impairment and maximize quality of life for Veterans with MS.
MSCoE Network
Announcements
VA MS Publications
Veteran Features
MSCoE Network
MSCoE East and West have developed a national network of MS Regional Programs and MS Support Programs within the VA.
Given the size of the population of Veterans with MS seeking treatment in VA and their distribution across the country, it is feasible to provide access to high quality subspecialty care through a hub and spoke network with designated MS Regional Programs supporting local facilities.
Each Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) will have at least one MS Regional Program that will serve as a source for MS specialty consultation and education.
Announcements
May 2021: Mask Wearing
CDC guidelines have changed for mask wearing in public. MSCoE would like to recommend caution.
You may have read the reports suggesting that people with MS taking fingolimod and ocrelizumab are not mounting an antibody response to the COVID vaccine. While antibodies are an important part of the protective response from a vaccine, they represent only one aspect of vaccine related immune response. At present there is not enough information to reach any conclusion about vaccine effectiveness in MS people on S1P inhibitors (fingolimod, etc.) and B cell therapies (ocrelizumab, rituximab, ofatumumab, etc.). Well-designed studies looking at these questions are in the process currently. Until we have more conclusive answers, we recommend all people with MS should continue pre-vaccination behaviors of distancing and masking.
December 2020: COVID-19 Vaccination for Veterans with MS
While people with MS were not included in the trials of the COVID-19 vaccines, there are no significant concerns that any of the COVID-19 vaccines increase the risk of infection, MS relapse, or MS worsening in people with MS. If you have MS, the potential benefits of receiving a COVID vaccine for you and your family generally outweigh the potential risks. There are no data supporting that any one of the vaccines offer specific unique advantages or disadvantages for people with MS or related diseases.
For most MS medications we anticipate that the vaccine should have full efficacy. For those on “B-cell therapies” such as rituximab (Rituxan, Truxima, Ruxience), ocrelizumab (Ocrevus), or ofatumumab (Kesimpta) the protection from the vaccine may be reduced based on research with other vaccines. Despite the reduced response we still think the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk. In general our recommendation for people taking the B-cell therapies is to schedule the vaccination within a few weeks prior to your next scheduled infusion. Do not skip an infusion without talking to your MS doctor.
More information can be found at:
Centers for Disease Control
World Health Organization
National MS Society
Links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by MSCoE of any of the products, services, or opinions of the organization. MSCoE bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
VA MS Publications
The VA ranks as one of the nation’s leaders in health research. Thousands of studies are conducted at VA medical centers, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes each year. This research has significantly contributed to advancements in health care for Veterans and other Americans from every walk of life.
Learn about MSCoE research on our Professionals and Veterans research pages.
Recent VA Provider Publications
Disease-Modifying Therapy Prescription Patterns in People with MS by Age
Impact of Adherence to Disease-Modifying Therapies on Employment Among Veterans with MS
Ectopic Lymphoid Follicles in MS: Centers for Disease Control?
N-Acetylglucosamine Drives Myelination by Triggering Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation
MS Spasticity: Take Control for Ambulatory Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Telemedicine and MS: A Comprehensive Literature Review
CNS Inflammatory Demyelinating Disorders: MS, NMOSD and MOG Antibody Associated Disease
Approaches to Remyelination Therapies in MS
Disclaimer: Links are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by MSCoE of any of the products, services, or opinions of the organization. MSCoE bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Veteran Features
Articles
We are fortunate to have Veterans share their stories of living with MS. These stories are filled with life's challenges, the value of family and friends, lots of hopefulness, with a little sense of humor thrown in. We hope you will enjoy reading these stories and in a small way feel connected to others that are living with this disease.
YouTube Videos
Our YouTube series covers a variety issues effecting Veterans with MS. Each video shares perspectives from Veterans and their health care team.
