Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine linked to deafness: WHO

According to a VigiBase report from WHO, instances of auditory loss also referred to as tinnitus was observed in people who were given Covid-19 vaccinations, primarily those that took the shots of Pfizer-BioNTech.

Hearing loss means the partial or total reduction in the ability to hear in either or both ears. It includes deafness, i.e.the lack of ability to grasp aural/verbal language, and sensorineural loss of hearing which is defined by a hearing acuity below 30 dB and usually occurs due to damage to the inner ear, cochlear or vestibulocochlear nerve, or the brain.

The age for the onset of hearing loss may vary and the type could be congenital or acquired through virus-borne infections and inflammations, and also systemic disorders like hypertension. Certain medications like aminoglycoside antibiotics can damage the vestibulocochlear apparatus directly.

A total of 164 unique individual case safety reports of hearing loss were found. More than 38% of ICSRs were from healthcare professionals; 40% of reports mentioned 'reporter category unknown', and 23% were 'consumer/non-health professionals'. Some reports of consumers were from healthcare professionals who were vaccinated. The most-reported COVID-19 vaccines in these cases were Pfizer/BioNTech with the count reaching as high as 142.