Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

Information on the Use of Cookies

In order to operate and optimise our website, we would like to collect and analyse statistical information completely anonymously. Will you accept the temporary use of statistics cookies?

You can revoke your consent at any time in our privacy policy.

OK

In Con­ver­sa­tion with Pro­fes­sor Klaus Ci­chutek – Why Vaccines Do Not Have Long-Term Ef­fects

The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut is contacted regularly by individuals who fear late effects from the new gene-based COVID-19 vaccines. They are worried that side effects could first appear many months or even years after vaccination. Professor Klaus Cichutek, President of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, in conversation with the Institute`s own online editorial team, explains why these fears are unfounded.

Prof. Dr. Klaus Cichutek (Source: T. Jansen / Paul-Ehrlich-Institut)

Those who are hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19 frequently state that not enough is known about late-onset effects. Is this fear justified?

Professor Klaus Cichutek:
We know from decades-long experience that side effects typically appear within a few hours or days of vaccination. In some rare cases, it takes weeks or months for the first appearance or detection of vaccine side effects.

One frequently mentioned theoretical risk is that of an autoimmune disease occurring as a long-term effect of vaccination. This not known to be an effect of any of the vaccines currently authorised in the EU.

The COVID-19 vaccines currently authorised in Europe have been authorised and in general use since the end of 2020 or the beginning of 2021. The first clinical trials started one and a half years ago. Since then, the vaccines have been administered millions, and in some cases billions, of times, allowing for even very rare side effects (rarer as one case per 10,000 vaccinations) to be identified.

But the term "long-lasting effects" continues to come up – do vaccines have any?

Professor Klaus Cichutek:
There is one desired long-lasting effect of vaccinations in terms of their long-term effectiveness: lasting protection against the infectious disease targeted by the vaccine used for vaccination. For some vaccines, this protection is lifelong – after two measles vaccinations, for example. For other vaccines, such as that against the flu virus, periodical booster shots are needed to maintain vaccine protection.

Suspected reports of adverse long-lasting effects of vaccines are very rarely made to the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut. In individual cases, these very rare, vaccine-related complications can last for a long period of time, in some cases years. This is the absolute exception.

An example of one such extremely rare side effect with long-lasting effects was the very rare appearance of cases of narcolepsy after vaccination with a specific pandemic influenza vaccine against the swine flu in 2009/2010. However, in this case there were already first signs of such a vaccine complication after about one year from the start of vaccinations.

It is important to keep in mind that this was an absolute exception. Typically, vaccines do not have any adverse long-lasting effects that are causally linked to vaccination.

Often individuals say “long-lasting effects” to mean side effects that appear late. These worries are unfounded.

Narcolepsy was indeed a side effect during the 2009 swine flu pandemic that was first identified very late. Wouldn’t that be considered a long-lasting effect?

Professor Klaus Cichutek:
It is true that narcolepsy is known to be a rare side effect connected to the H1N1v pandemic vaccine. In some cases, it was first identified many months after vaccination by the appearance of symptoms in a very small number of people. Narcolepsy symptoms are treatable, though they can be lifelong.

What would you say to people who have reservations about getting vaccinated against COVID-19?

Professor Klaus Cichutek:
The COVID-19 vaccine protects against life-threatening complications stemming from SARS-CoV-2 infection. The protection provided against this dangerous viral infection is thus highly effective and safe.

Over the course of what is now millions of vaccinations, it has been shown that most of the side effects that appear within the first one to three days after vaccination are temporary.

The vaccines against COVID-19 offer a very good level of protection against possible complications of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The desired immune reaction triggered by the COVID-19 vaccines can lead to some previously identified reactions and symptoms after vaccination. These reactions are more frequent and more pronounced than what we see with other vaccines, such as the flu vaccine. It is important to note, however, that these are generally temporary symptoms such as pain at the injection site, general discomfort, and maybe a slight fever.

The vaccines are safe, highly effective, and offer a high level of protection against COVID-19 infection, especially severe cases. Even if certain groups such as the elderly or people with underlying conditions have a higher risk for a severe case of COVID-19, there are also some cases of severe COVID-19 after vaccination effecting young and healthy people. The health-related risks of a SARS-CoV-2 infection are higher than the risks of very rare serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccines authorised in Germany. In any case, the guidelines that apply to COVID-19 vaccines are the same as those that apply to all vaccines: a vaccine is only considered for approval if it has a favourable benefit-risk ratio.

The vaccines against COVID-19 are safe, effective, and protect against a disease whose course cannot be predicted for each individual. Everyone who can get vaccinated against COVID-19 should get vaccinated.

Professor Cichutek, thank you very much for the chat.

Updated: 10.01.2022