Thyroid dysfunction following the covid vaccination

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8960081/

Among 83 reported cases including in this review, the most cases of thyroid abnormalities were observed after vaccination with mRNA-based vaccines (68.7%), followed by viral vector vaccines (15.7%)

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) was the most common COVID-19 vaccination-related thyroid disease, accounting for 60.2% of all cases, followed by Graves' disease with 25.3%. Moreover, some cases with focal painful thyroiditis (3.6%), silent thyroiditis (3.6%), concurrent Graves Disease and SAT (2.4%), thyroid eye disease (1.2%), overt hypothyroidism (1.2%), atypical subacute thyroiditis (1.2%), and painless thyroiditis (1.2%) were also reported. Overall, in 58.0% of SAT cases and in 61.9% of Graves cases, the onset of the symptoms occurred following the first vaccine dose with a median of 10.0 days (ranged: 3–21 days) and 10.0 days (ranged: 1–60 days) after vaccination, respectively. Moreover, 40.0% of SAT patients and 38.1% of GD patients developed the symptoms after the second dose with a median of 10.5 days (ranged: 0.5–37 days) and 14.0 days (ranged: 2–35 days) after vaccination, respectively.

In the conclusion of this paper, they stated “The reports concerning the incidence rate of vaccination-induced autoimmune responses may be under-estimated [86]. Because an effective monitoring system is missing, and the vaccination status of the majority of patients with newly diagnosed thyroid dysfunction is not checked. The world is currently undertaking the greatest mass vaccination, and cases of thyroid abnormalities will undoubtedly arise, either as a result of the vaccine-associated and/or vaccine-independent processes.”

Here is what is concerning.  First, we know this is happening.  But it is not being screened for via labs on a regular basis.  Most patients see their primary care provider maybe 1-2x per year.  Urgent care if sick, well woman visit yearly, PCP visit yearly, etc.  To catch a thyroid issue post vaccine, your yearly PCP visit would almost have to coincide with when you were vaccinated.  Second, most people do not get their covid vaccine at the PCP office.  They are getting them at CVS, Walgreens, employer vaccine drives, health department, etc.  This has long standing been a concern of mine, because your primary care provider does not truly know who has and has not been vaccinated or when they were vaccinated.  Do they know to do a thyroid screening?  Are PCP’s screening thyroid yearly in their patients who have not had a previous thyroid issue?

Second, Graves Disease is in the autoimmune category of illness, much like Hashimotos Thyroiditis.  Sooooo, if thyroid dysfunction is occurring due to autoimmune issues, what OTHER autoimmune issues may be going on as well?  Arthritis?  Chronic Fatigue? Lupus?   Hypothyroid symptoms are tiredness, fatigue, brain fog, poor appetite, weight gain,etc.  Hyperthyroid issues include poor sleep, anxiety, fidgety and poor focus.

I can say this much.  This past year I have had a PLETHORA of patients reporting exactly those symptoms above.  I have several patients who are in with rheumatology now for autoimmune issues and positive ANA titers.  Tiredness and brain fog, anxiety, and weight gain are hands down the most common things I hear in my office.  What if a patient already has a thyroid issue and is taking Levothyroxine?  Does the thyroid react differently to the vaccine and create another comorbid condition?  Does the old dose of medication no longer work or does it now work TOO good and creates another set of symptoms?  Hyperthyroidism can cause a condition called Exopthalmos, or bulging eyes.  I have noticed on the rare occasion I watch television that there are now commercials for “thyroid eye disease” or TED and of course there is a new med out to fix it.  I thought that was odd because TED is a fancy new name for exopthalmos, which is truly not super common and if the thyroid hormones are managed properly with medications, that condition resolves or never develops.  Why would the incidence of that be going up now?  And why do we have a new drug and a new name for the condition?  Is it because it is not truly hyperthyroidism induced exopthalmos and it is vaccine induced thyroid eye disease now?

Bottom line: if you have been vaccinated, in addition to having a cardioScan to check your calcium buildup in your heart, I would also request a thyroid panel, which is a TSH/T3/T4 along with an ANA titer to see if antinuclear antibodies are present.  That is the first step to identifying autoimmune conditions. Rheumatology, cardiology, neurology, and psychiatry are busy, and continue to get busier as these health situations increase and evolve.