Have your ears started to ring after you received your Covid vaccine shot? What is the connection between covid vaccine and Tinnitus? Let’s explore.
Do Covid vaccines cause Tinnitus?
August 15th, 2021 Update – Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) Covid-19 vaccine linked to Tinnitus and Dizziness
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-PRAC* (Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee) released a report that concluded that both Tinnitus and Dizziness are linked to the administration of the Janssen (Johnson and Johnson) vaccine for Covid-19. It came to this conclusion after analyzing 1,183 cases of dizziness reported as a side effect after vaccination. The prevalence of Tinnitus was much lower though. PRAC concluded that Tinnitus is a directly related side effect after analyzing 6 cases during clinical trials and after monitoring 108 spontaneous reports of Tinnitus as a side effect.-
PRAC* is the European equivalent to VAERS, a vigilance reporting system designed to link side effects to medicines and vaccines.
Based on numbers reported at VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), Tinnitus doesn’t seem to be a common side effect that is caused by covid vaccines. VAERS is a post-marketing surveillance program jointly co-managed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). VAERS data cannot definitely say if a side effect is directly caused by a vaccine. But, their data is generally a good starting point for vaccine makers or government bodies like the CDC and FDA to further investigate a vaccine’s link to a particular side effect, when it becomes widespread. So far, neither the CDC nor the FDA have investigated the link between Covid-19 vaccines and the onset of Tinnitus. The correlation just isn’t there, according to the data available.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
As on July 5th, 2021, more than 150 Million Americans have been fully vaccinated with two doses. The number who have received at least one dose is probably much higher. Based on the VAERS data below, there seems to be a 0.005% (very negligible) chance of Tinnitus resulting as a side effect of a Covid vaccine.
| Tinnitus Reported as a Side Effect | |
| Pfizer-BioNTech | 4,280 |
| Moderna | 3,357 |
| Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen | 737 |
Data collected from VAERS, as on July 5, 2021. 150+ Million Americans have been full vaccinated (both doses) as of this date.
Could it be Covid Causing Tinnitus?
Vaccines may not be causing Tinnitus. But, Covid-19 as a disease seems to be capable of causing Tinnitus and other problems related to the ear.
This study examined 850 covid patients.
Out of 850 covid patients;
- 65 developed hearing loss
- 126 developed Tinnitus
- 61 developed Vertigo
Though the study was small, there seems to be a definite connection between Covid-19 and cochleo-vestibular system disorders.
This data also seems to be backed up by data reported from the British Tinnitus Association. Between May and December in 2020, they reported a 256% increase in chat interactions on their website that offers help to people suffering from Tinnitus. Google and other search engine searches have also dramatically gone up for search terms like Tinnitus, by as much as 50% since when the pandemic started.
Based on the data above, there seems to be a possibility that you were maybe affected by Covid-19 itself. You were perhaps asymptomatic. You could take an antibody test to see if Covid-19 has affected you, without you knowing it until your Tinnitus came along.
Why Covid-19 Causes Tinnitus, Hearing Loss and other cochelo-vestibular problems?
Covid-19 generates a strong immune response in the body. When the immune system goes into overdrive, it can result in an excessive production of cytokines. Cytokines are helpful in controlled numbers. But, beyond a certain point, they can be inflammatory. Early studies seem to suggest that a Covid-19 induced cytokine storm can cause neurological inflammation that can then cause Tinnitus and other disorders of the cochelo-vestibular systems.
However, research on this matter is not definitive and very preliminary in nature.
Another theory is that steroids used to treat and manage Covid-19 symptoms could also cause Tinnitus. Studies have already established that steroids like Prednisone and Tinnitus can be connected. So, it’s quite possible that steroids used to treat Covid could cause Tinnitus as well.
What to do if you got Tinnitus after your Covid Vaccine?
It is advisable that you see a doctor. If your Tinnitus is accompanied by hearing loss, your Doctor might prescribe you Prednisone to help you get your lost hearing back. But, prednisone and Tinnitus itself has a worrying connection. If not tapered down properly, Prednisone can worsen Tinnitus.
There is also no cure for Tinnitus. It can only be managed. You can learn about various lifestyle changes and management techniques you can learn to cope with Tinnitus, at our Tinnitus blog here.
Should you get your second dose if you think your first Covid vaccine dose caused Tinnitus?
Only a certified doctor can give you medical advice you can trust. But, if we had to give our opinion on the matter, we would say that you can perhaps go ahead with your second shot if your Tinnitus fades away in the days after your first dose. But, if Tinnitus persists or worsens in the days following your first dose, you might want to talk to your doctor about your vaccination options.
Most people who report Tinnitus as a side effect resulting from their vaccine shot complain of getting Tinnitus with a few hours to just 1 or 2 days from the time of getting their shot. If Tinnitus fades, it should begin to fade away in a matter of days.
