Common COVID-19 variants probably don't lead to more autoimmune symptoms in vaccinated populations

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2024-08-31 01:00

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Delta and Omicron BA.1 or BA.2 COVID-19 infections are not linked with a higher long-term risk of autoimmune symptoms in a highly vaccinated population, according to a Singaporean study. The team monitored new diagnoses of autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or inflammatory arthritis, among more than 1.7 million people in Singapore, including 480,000 who had COVID-19 during periods of either Delta or Omicron BA.1/BA.2 transmission. Over 90% of the participants who had COVID-19 had been vaccinated. The researchers said there was no overall evidence of a higher risk of autoimmune conditions developing in the 300 days following COVID-19 in this population. They say this is contrary to similar studies done in other populations earlier in the pandemic, which could mean the change in dominant COVID-19 variant and vaccination were reducing the risk of autoimmune responses. The researchers say some specific autoimmune conditions were more likely to develop in people infected during the Omicron period, but some of this risk appeared to be mitigated by booster vaccination.