Is Tinnitus a COVID Vaccine Side Effect?

Some people have reported ear ringing, also called tinnitus, after getting the COVID-19 vaccine. However, tinnitus is not officially listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a common vaccine side effect.

Still, tinnitus reports have surfaced:

• Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinical trials reported six non-severe tinnitus cases. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later ruled that they were not related to the shot.
• As of August 2021, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database documented around 9,000 cases of tinnitus after vaccination with any brand.

Peter Gulick, DO, professor of medicine and infectious disease expert at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, tells Verywell that the fear of experiencing tinnitus should not stop you from getting the vaccine. “After giving millions of people a [COVID-19] vaccine, tinnitus is not a red flag that popped up prompting scientists to say, ‘You know, this is kind of a big issue with COVID-19 vaccines,’” he says.

Does the Covid-19 Vaccine Cause Tinnitus?

As of November 2021, around one in 8,000 people in the United Kingdom have reported an onset of tinnitus or worsening tinnitus symptoms after receiving the Covid vaccine. This has led the British Tinnitus Association to label tinnitus as a rare occurring side effect.

While there’s not a single explanation for the small number of tinnitus cases following vaccination, Gulick says a preexisting condition or a history of tinnitus could cause the ear ringing to act up.

“Tinnitus is not very common from COVID-19," he says. "But suppose somebody already has a preexisting problem in the ear. In that case, the virus—or the vaccine—can affect those little hair cells in the cochlea that are responsible for causing ear ringing or a little nerve irritation. Usually, you see tinnitus more often in somebody that's already had the problem. It's unlikely to start happening all of a sudden."

Another researcher believes that in some people, a strong immune system response to the vaccine can lead to neuroinflammation. This inflammatory response, which may include symptoms such as fatigue and mental fogginess, is thought to worsen any existing hearing issues.

Worsening Tinnitus Symptoms During the Pandemic

Separate from vaccination status, people who already have tinnitus have seen their condition worsen during the pandemic. In a sample of about 3,100 people from 48 countries, research collected in November 2020 indicated that:

• About 32% of people with preexisting tinnitus were more irritated by their symptoms as a result of pandemic-driven lifestyle changes.
• People tended to notice their tinnitus more while socially isolated from others.
• Dealing with social distancing restrictions worsened the symptoms of tinnitus in 25% of people.
• About 86% of people with tinnitus reported being less social and 58% were lonelier. People who experienced these feelings were more likely to report that their tinnitus symptoms felt more difficult to deal with during the pandemic.

Another study from August 2020 also showed that people who viewed the pandemic as stressful or nerve-wracking were more likely to report bothersome tinnitus symptoms.

What Should You Do If Your Ears Are Ringing?

If you've experienced tinnitus after vaccination, be sure to let your doctor know. You may also consider logging your symptoms on an app like the CDC's V-safe, which tracks symptoms in real-time.

“Preexisting tinnitus is not a contraindication to getting the vaccine, but if you experience tinnitus after the first dose, and if it’s not going away, or it’s getting worse, then see what a doctor says before you consider your second dose,” Gulick says.

Research on tinnitus as a potential COVID-19 vaccine side effect is limited, so the best thing everyone can do is continue to report any unusual or long-lasting side effects.

"Without data, it's hard to see if tinnitus is going to be something permanent or not because we haven't studied it long enough to know,” Gulick says.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.