Vaccine Researcher Who Developed Tinnitus After COVID Shot Calls for Further Study

submited by
Style Pass
2022-09-24 02:30:23

by Jennifer Henderson, Enterprise & Investigative Writer, MedPage Today March 9, 2022

Gregory Poland, MD, director of the Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group in Rochester, Minnesota, remains a steadfast vaccination advocate -- even though he developed tinnitus soon after receiving his second dose of COVID vaccine.

A little more than a year ago, Poland was driving back from the hospital after receiving his second shot when he nearly veered out of his lane.

"It was like someone suddenly blew a dog whistle in my ear," Poland told MedPage Today. "It has been pretty much unrelenting."

Since then, Poland said he has been experiencing what he describes as life-altering tinnitus, or ringing in the ear. It occurs in both ears, but is worse in the left than in the right.

He remains steadfast that opting to receive his booster -- after which his tinnitus briefly disappeared but then returned at a slightly higher pitch that made it just a bit less bothersome -- was the right move. After all, it would be "way too ironic" for a prominent vaccinologist to die of COVID, he said. He also worried about the possibility of contracting COVID and spreading it to his patients.

Leave a Comment