Researchers have discovered through an Israeli study that a herpes infection can be caused by vaccinations with Covid-19 for certain patients with underlying conditions.
The study identified six individuals who developed a rash known as herpes zoster after receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Five developed the rash after their first dose of vaccination, and the sixth developed it after the second dose.
Herpes zoster causes a red, itchy rash to develop on the skin and this can eventually lead to complications such as nerve damage.
Researchers from the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and the Carmel Medical Center in Haifa have found that the risk of herpes zoster, also known as shingles, is likely to increase for patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD).
Also on rt.com
EMA says the benefits of J&J Covid-19 vaccine outweigh the risks, despite the possible link to rare blood clots
The six who developed the herpes infection all had mild cases of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases and were under the age of 50.
The potential risk remains relatively small, as only 1.2% of the 491 patients that researchers look at have developed the infection.
Lead researcher Dr Victoria Furer also told the Jerusalem Post that the Pfizer vaccine could not be considered safe “Cause” of the infections.
“At this stage we can not say that the vaccine is the cause,” she said. “We can say that it can be a trigger in some patients.”
Also on rt.com
British border force ‘seizes 100 fake Covid-19 certificates every day’, MPs said documents ‘very easy’ to falsify
Furer added that people still need to be vaccinated, but patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases need to be vaccinated for herpes zoster before their Covid vaccinations.
“We must not scare people,” she said. ‘The general message is to be vaccinated. It’s just important to be aware. ”
Furer said further research is needed to concretely link the outbreaks of herpes zoster to the Pfizer vaccine, but she has already received emails from patients around the world reporting similar infections.
If you like this story, share it with a friend!