The Claim:
Some people are taking the headline from this article to suggest that Long-COVID-like symptoms following vaccination prove that vaccines are not worth taking.
The Facts:
COVID-19 vaccines have been successful in saving lives but can also have side effects, including a new condition resembling Long Covid, referred to as Long Vax. The symptoms of Long Vax include persistent headaches, severe fatigue, and abnormal heart rate or blood pressure.
Researchers are investigating connections between certain medical conditions like small fiber neuropathy and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and Long Vax. These conditions are also common in people with Long Covid. Some studies have found an increase in POTS symptoms after both vaccination and infection, but the increase is significantly less with vaccination than with COVID infection.
One of the leading hypotheses about the cause of “Long Vax” involves an overreaction of the immune system in people who have previously had cases of COVID. The antibodies produced by the vaccine may attack the previous antibodies created during the first infection. This could also happen if they get infected with COVID again, leading to Long COVID symptoms. More research is needed.
Some research, however, indicates that vaccination prior to infection may be protective against developing Long COVID.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved since this was originally posted. Browse the latest information posted in Just the Facts Topics.
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