A nationwide population-based study in South Korea aimed to assess the incidence and risk of autoimmune connective tissue disorders following mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination. The study included over 3.8 million vaccinated individuals and matched controls without COVID-19 evidence. Results showed that the risk of various autoimmune disorders, including alopecia areata, psoriasis, vitiligo, vasculitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, did not significantly increase in vaccinated individuals compared to controls. This lack of association was consistent across different age groups, sexes, types of mRNA vaccines, and vaccination statuses, suggesting that COVID-19 vaccination is not strongly linked to the development of autoimmune connective tissue disorders.

Overall, the study suggests that COVID-19 vaccination is not associated with a notable increase in the risk of most autoimmune connective tissue disorders, emphasizing the importance of vaccination in mitigating COVID-19-related risks.

Reference: Ju HJ, Lee JY, Han JH, Lee JH, Bae JM, Lee S. Risk of autoimmune skin and connective tissue disorders after mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccination. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023 Oct;89(4):685-693. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.05.017. Epub 2023 May 13. PMID: 37187424; PMCID: PMC10182598.