COVID-19 Vaccines and Infections Linked to Hidden Autoimmune Disorders Years Later
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 02, 2025 19 hours, 53 minutes ago
Medical News: The Rising Concern of Late Autoimmune Disorders
Researchers from the Clinical Research Department at the Pasteur Institute of Iran have shared findings that raise important questions about how COVID-19 and vaccines may trigger health issues long after initial exposure. While vaccines were designed to protect against severe illness and death, doctors have now documented rare cases of autoimmune diseases appearing months or even years later. This
Medical News report focuses on two related patients—a mother and daughter—who developed thyroid disease and lupus after COVID-19 infection and vaccination.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Infections Linked to Hidden Autoimmune Disorders Years Later
Case of the Mother
A 64-year-old woman with no previous illnesses developed a swollen neck, hair loss, weight gain, and constipation. Tests confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a condition where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. She was prescribed levothyroxine. Ten months later, she experienced joint stiffness, and further examinations showed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), another autoimmune disorder. Hydroxychloroquine and prednisolone helped control her symptoms.
Her medical record showed she had received the Sinopharm and PastoCovac Plus vaccines and later caught COVID-19. Interestingly, her thyroid disorder appeared five months after the booster dose, while lupus symptoms started four months after infection. This suggested that both vaccines and the virus itself acted as triggers for her autoimmune flare-ups.
Case of the Daughter
Her 36-year-old daughter also developed thyroid-related symptoms including neck pain and hair loss. Tests confirmed Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, which improved with levothyroxine. She had received Covaxin and PastoCovac Plus vaccines and later had a mild case of COVID-19. Her thyroid disorder began four months after infection, pointing to the virus as the likely cause.
Why It Matters
Viral infections like COVID-19 can disturb the immune system, sometimes leading it to mistakenly attack healthy organs. Vaccines can also stimulate immune responses that rarely result in autoimmune reactions. Scientists describe mechanisms such as “molecular mimicry,” where the body confuses virus proteins with its own tissues.
The reported cases stand out because of their delayed onset and the fact that both patients were closely related, hinting that family genetics may increase risk. Doctors stress that these cases are rare but highlight the need to monitor patients with a family history of autoimmunity more carefully after COVID-19 infection or vaccination.
The Bigger Picture
These findings do not mean that vaccines are unsafe. On the contrary, vaccines remain essential to saving lives worldwide. However, they show that more long-term studies and careful follow-up are needed. By recognizing possible late-onset autoimmune conditions, doctors can ensure patient
s receive timely treatment and avoid misdiagnosis.
Conclusion
This report adds to growing evidence that both COVID-19 infection and vaccines may trigger autoimmune disorders in genetically predisposed individuals. While such cases are uncommon, they emphasize the complexity of our immune system and the importance of tracking long-term health outcomes. Vaccines remain a crucial shield against COVID-19, but greater vigilance and research are needed to fully understand their long-term impact.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Case Reports in Medicine.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/carm/8815875
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/doctors-from-slovakia-warn-that-even-mild-covid-19-can-trigger-rare-autoimmune-brain-disorder
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-induced-igg-autoantibodies-are-targeting-various-immune-cells-and-also-proteins-in-various-organs
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/it-was-wrong-to-have-used-the-spike-proteins-in-the-covid-19-vaccines-as-they-can-elicit-many-kinds-of-pathogenic-autoantibodies
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