The first to confirm the increased relative incidence of tinnitus and vertigo post COVID-19 vaccines, authors of a recent study warned vaccinated individuals to remain alert to these complications. The study, published in the Vaccine journal on Feb. 22, aimed to determine whether there was an increase in audiovestibular events following COVID-19 vaccination in south-eastern Australia. Audiovestibular refers to conditions related to hearing and balance disorders. Researchers observed a rise in vertigo and tinnitus cases after vaccination, with tinnitus causing individuals to hear sounds like humming, ringing, or rushing, and vertigo making people feel like they’re spinning, leading to dizziness.
While the researchers noted an increase in vertigo incidence following mRNA vaccines, and an increase in tinnitus incidence after both AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines, they reported no rise in cases of hearing loss. The Australian study collected data from two databases, SAEFVIC and POLAR, identifying cases of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. The researchers concluded that there was no increased incidence of hearing loss following COVID-19 vaccines. They acknowledged limitations in their study, including not accounting for concurrent COVID-19 infections, which could potentially be associated with audiovestibular events.
Another study found an association between the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and sudden deafness, although the effect size was small. Meanwhile, tinnitus, a condition causing ringing in the ears, has been reported following COVID-19 vaccination. Individuals have shared experiences of experiencing tinnitus after receiving the vaccine, expressing struggles in addressing their concerns openly. Despite facing challenges, individuals affected by tinnitus post-vaccination have found it difficult to openly discuss their experiences due to fear of being labeled as anti-vaxxers, emphasizing the importance of sharing personal experiences to raise awareness of potential side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine.