Vertigo and Dizziness After Coronavirus Disease-2019 Vaccination: A Nationwide Analysis.

BACKGROUND

Side effects occurring after COVID-19 vaccination can include vertigo and dizziness. Despite its high incidence, few studies to date have assessed dizziness/vertigo after vaccination. The present study investigated the incidence of dizziness/vertigo after COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea.

METHODS

Adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccination reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from February 26, 2021, to July 31, 2022 (week 74) were analyzed. The incidence rates of dizziness/vertigo in subjects vaccinated with 5 COVID-19 vaccines, AZD1222 (AstraZeneca), BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech), JNJ-78436735 (Janssen), mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax), were determined.

RESULTS

A total of 126 725 952 doses of COVID-19 vaccine were administered, with 473 755 suspected adverse reactions (374 per 100 000 vaccinations) reported. Vertigo/dizziness was reported after the administration of 68 759 doses, or 54.3 per 100 000 vaccinations, making it the third most common adverse reaction after headache and muscle pain.

CONCLUSION

Dizziness/vertigo was generally a mild adverse reaction after COVID-19 vaccination, but it was the third most common adverse reaction in Korea. Studies are necessary to clarify the causal relationship between vaccination and dizziness/vertigo and to prepare subjects for this possible adverse reaction.