WHO examines rare reports of hearing issues post-vaccination

• There have been reports of sudden auditory issues, such as hearing loss and tinnitus, associated with Covid vaccines.
• While many patients recovered, some reported unrelenting ringing in their ears for months after their vaccination.
• Since there is still limited data, WHO urged further monitoring and awareness among patients and physicians.

The World Health Organization has received reports of sudden auditory issues, such as hearing problems and tinnitus (a ringing sensation in the ears), among people who had received a Covid-19 vaccine.

The agency shared the report in a newsletter posted on its website.

Out of more than 11 billion doses of Covid vaccine given worldwide, there were 367 cases of tinnitus and 164 cases of hearing loss reported within a day of receiving a shot.

The Uppsala Monitoring Centre, an independent, nonprofit organization in Sweden that works with the WHO, collected the reports.

Reports of tinnitus came from 27 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Patients had ages ranging from 19 to 91. Nearly three-quarters were women. More than a third worked in the health care industry.

According to the reports, many patients recovered. Others, meanwhile, reported unrelenting and life-altering tinnitus for months after vaccination.

Tinnitus, which is described as a buzzing, ringing, or hissing noise in one or both ears, has no known cause.

The WHO, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and vaccine manufacturers stated that there has been no proof that the vaccines may cause any hearing problems

A February study that looked into the issue found that the prevalence of such auditory issues was just as common in the general population as compared to the vaccinated population. Around 10 percent of the U.S. population has reported experiencing tinnitus from any cause.

Another February study showed a minimal increase in reports of hearing problems after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. According to the WHO’s report, 80 percent of the reported tinnitus cases received the Pfizer vaccine. However, it could be because health care workers were first in line for the vaccines, and the Pfizer shots were the first ones available.

A Pfizer spokesperson said that they found “no causal association” between its Covid vaccine and reports of tinnitus.

Considering the rarity of the reports and limited data on the issue, the WHO advised “further monitoring” and awareness among physicians and patients.

Source: Aol.com