Side effect of the Covid-19 vaccine on the ear

Vertigo, dizziness and light-headedness are generally considered a relatively common side effect after a Covid-19 vaccine. However, very often the onset of these events after the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine is not directly related to it.

Indeed, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), very often the dizziness reported following a Covid-19 vaccination, may occasionally be the symptom of an allergic reaction (however, this is most common in the first 15-30 minutes of vaccination) or an anxiety-related response, something which has been found to occur with many other vaccines.

The aforementioned Covid-19 vaccine adverse reactions report, finds that in the UK, out of the 77.4 million doses administered, episodes of vertigo, dizziness and nausea related to the administration of the Covid 19 vaccine were divided as follows:

• Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca): 2164
• Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech): 935 
• Moderna: 63

A small but growing number of people are reporting tinnitus after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine. According to the above mentioned Covid-19 vaccine adverse reactions report, in the UK, out of 77.4 million doses administered as of June, 30 2021, episodes of tinnitus and ringing in ears related to the administration of the Covid 19 vaccine were divided as follows:

• Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca): 3556
• Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech): 1149 
• Moderna: 87

Earache is a rather common symptom and may be attributable to many different causes. For this reason, it is not easy to associate administration of the Covid vaccine and ear pain as a direct side effect of the, since its onset may well be the result of coincidence.

To this end, we shall limit ourselves to reporting the results of the Covid-19 vaccine adverse reactions report, which states that in the UK, out of 77.4 million doses administered, episodes of earache reported following administration of the Covid 19 vaccine were as follows:

• Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca): 1924
• Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech): 581 
• Moderna: 49

Sars-CoV-2 virus is known to also cause an inflammatory response and an increase in cytokines. This process is among those implicated in sensorineural hearing loss, which may well demonstrate how hearing loss can, in rare cases, be a consequence of Coronavirus. However, can hearing loss take place following administration of the Covid vaccine?

The answer to this question would seem to be yes: Covid vaccine hearing loss may be one of its rare side effects. Indeed, as detailed in the aforementioned Covid-19 vaccine adverse reactions report, in the UK, out of 77.4 million doses administered, episodes of hearing loss related to the administration of the Covid 19 vaccine were reported as follows:

• Vaxzevria (Astrazeneca): 676
• Comirnaty (Pfizer-BioNTech): 323 
• Moderna: 15

The main types of hearing loss involved were:

• Hearing loss (no specifications): 464
• Bilateral hearing loss: 21
• Sensorineural hearing loss: 43
• Transitory hearing loss: 7
• Hypoacusis: 215
• Sudden hearing loss: 86

Other very rare side effects reported after Covid vaccine administration and classified as ear disorders are:

• Hyperacusis: 169
• Ear swelling: 91
• Meniere's disease: 32
• Eustachian tube disorders: 22