Vaccination and Long COVID Symptoms
Author Information
Author(s): Shreya Mukherjee, Tracey Singer, Aditi Venkatesh, Natasha Choudhury, Gina S. Perez Giraldo, Millenia Jimenez, Janet Miller, Melissa Lopez, Barbara A. Hanson, Aasheeta P. Bawa, Ayush Batra, Eric M. Liotta, Igor J. Koralnik
Primary Institution: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Does vaccination prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection affect the neurologic manifestations of long COVID?
Conclusion
Vaccination prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection does not affect the neurologic manifestations of long COVID in either post-hospitalization or non-hospitalized patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Vaccination does not significantly change the prevalence of neurological symptoms in long COVID patients.
- Patients with breakthrough infections had a higher burden of comorbidities.
- Minor differences in symptoms may be due to the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 strains.
Takeaway
Getting vaccinated before catching COVID-19 doesn't change how your brain feels afterward if you have long COVID.
Methodology
The study evaluated 200 post-hospitalization and 1100 non-hospitalized patients with long COVID symptoms, comparing those infected before and after vaccination.
Potential Biases
Patients self-selected to seek care, which may introduce bias based on geography and socio-economic status.
Limitations
The study's definition of long COVID differed from CDC and WHO definitions, and the patient population may not represent all individuals with long COVID.
Participant Demographics
{"PNP":{"mean_age":55.6,"female_percentage":55.5,"race_distribution":{"White":60.5,"Black":20.5,"Asian":3.5,"Hispanic":16.5}},"NNP":{"mean_age":46.2,"female_percentage":67.1,"race_distribution":{"White":74.8,"Black":7.9,"Asian":3.8,"Hispanic":10.8}}}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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