Reports of hearing loss and other auditory issues after receiving the COVID-19 vaccines are being examined by the World Health Organization (WHO)..The Uppsala Monitoring Centre — an independent, nonprofit organization in Sweden that works with the WHO — provided the data on detected hearing loss cases and tinnitus following the COVID-19 vaccines. Calling it a “preliminary signal” the letter said it needs to be further assessed..The cases were reported from 10 different countries. Data showed 164 individual case safety reports (ICSRs) were identified that reported hearing loss and 367 ICSRs reported tinnitus after the COVID-19 vaccine within zero and 19 days, most occurring within three days.. Table-of-hearing-issues-post-covid-shotTable A from the World Health Organization newsletter .Those who reported tinnitus ranged in age from 19 to 91 and the majority — nearly three quarters — were women..Alternative causes were ruled out in most cases, although some had identified contributing morbidities such as allergies, high blood pressure, prior hearing loss or auto-immune-related disorders..“As there is still only limited data in the literature providing evidence for this link, further monitoring is required,” said the newsletter..An article on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) after COVID-19 vaccination can also be found on the PubMed website..Several cases of SSNHL have been reported, according to the article, including three patients who experienced hearing loss within three days of their vaccination..Although the article suggests “there is no evidence of an association between vaccination and SSNHL” it is suggested a link should be kept in mind because the condition could warrant prompt emergency treatment with steroids..In the article, other rare serious adverse events to the COVID-19 vaccines were mentioned including Guillain-Barré syndrome, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, and myocarditis..The WHO newsletter also reviewed other recorded signals for vaccine adverse events including cases of muscle spasms and gastric perforation, however, those events were reported at much lower case numbers..Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
