COVID Vaccine Side Effects in Lyme Disease: A Case Study
One patient reported only mild, short-lived vaccine side effects
Her longstanding Lyme disease symptoms did not worsen
Survey findings provide broader context beyond this individual case
Some individuals with Lyme disease worry that COVID-19 vaccination may worsen their existing symptoms. This case study describes a 28-year-old woman with longstanding Lyme disease who received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and reported her experience following vaccination.
A 28-year-old single White Latina woman reported contracting Lyme disease while on vacation after experiencing a tick bite and an erythema migrans rash. She had been ill since age 16 and was unable to complete her college degree. She was unemployed at the time of the survey.
She had a positive IgG Western blot test for Lyme disease and had also been treated clinically for Bartonella. Her previous treatments included Zithromax, vancomycin, Levaquin, and IV ceftriaxone.
She had also received vitamin C, fish oil, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium, glutathione, saunas and steam rooms, enemas, stem cells, and zinc.
The woman remained ill despite treatment and reported fatigue, insomnia, muscle and joint pain, migraines, seizures, general malaise, swollen glands, tachycardia, brain fog, concentration problems, mood swings, irritability, depression, and sensitivity to light, noise, and odors.
In May 2021, she received the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Following vaccination, she experienced a slight headache, some fatigue, and pain at the injection site. These symptoms lasted less than 48 hours.
Importantly, her extensive neurologic, cognitive, and physical symptoms were part of her longstanding illness and were present before vaccination. They were not reported as vaccine side effects.
Before vaccination, her symptom burden was measured using the General Symptom Questionnaire-30 (GSQ-30). Her score was 43 out of 120—higher than reported in patients with traumatic brain injury but lower than reported in groups with depression or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome (PTLDS).1
Her most severe GSQ-30 symptoms included low energy, difficulty falling or staying asleep, needing more sleep than usual, awakening unrefreshed, feeling worse after normal physical activity, back pain, muscle aches, bladder discomfort or changes in urination, irritability, sadness or depression, panic or anxiety, difficulty finding words, memory problems, and slowed thinking.
Persistent symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and cognitive difficulties are discussed further in our Persistent Lyme Disease Symptoms guide.
She did not feel that the vaccine had worsened her Lyme disease. She reported that she strongly encouraged others to receive the vaccine.
COVID vaccine side effects in a patient with Lyme disease
Key Findings
Question: Some individuals with a history of Lyme disease have expressed concerns that COVID-19 vaccination might increase their symptom burden. What did a survey find among individuals with a history of Lyme disease who received a COVID-19 vaccine?
Findings: This cross-sectional study examined 1,168 individuals with a history of Lyme disease. The GSQ-30 symptom-burden score among the 616 vaccinated respondents was significantly lower than among the 552 respondents who were not vaccinated.
Meaning: Vaccinated respondents reported a lower overall symptom burden than unvaccinated respondents. However, because this was a cross-sectional observational survey, it cannot establish that vaccination reduced symptom burden. The findings did not suggest worsening at the group level, although some individuals may experience temporary or prolonged reactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a COVID vaccine worsen Lyme disease symptoms?
Individual experiences can vary. In this case, the patient reported mild, short-term vaccine side effects and did not feel that her longstanding Lyme disease symptoms worsened following vaccination.
What side effects did the patient experience after the COVID-19 vaccine?
She reported a mild headache, fatigue, and soreness at the injection site. These symptoms resolved within 48 hours.
Were her severe symptoms caused by the COVID-19 vaccine?
No. Her fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, cognitive difficulties, and other substantial symptoms were part of her longstanding illness and were present before vaccination.
What happened after this patient with Lyme disease received the vaccine?
She experienced mild, short-lived vaccine-related symptoms but did not report any significant worsening of her underlying Lyme disease symptoms.
Did the patient recommend COVID vaccination to others with Lyme disease?
Yes. Despite her longstanding illness, she reported that she strongly encouraged others to receive the vaccine.
Clinical Perspective
Patients with Lyme disease frequently ask whether COVID-19 vaccination will worsen their symptoms. Individual experiences vary, and a single case cannot predict how another patient will respond. This case provides an example of a woman with longstanding Lyme disease who tolerated vaccination without significant worsening of her underlying illness.
The larger survey offers additional context. Vaccinated respondents reported a lower overall symptom burden than unvaccinated respondents, but the observational study design does not demonstrate that vaccination caused this difference.
Clinical Takeaway
This woman had a substantial symptom burden before receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. After vaccination, she reported only a mild headache, fatigue, and injection-site discomfort lasting less than 48 hours. She did not feel that her Lyme disease had worsened.
Individual responses to vaccination vary, but this case provides an example of a patient with persistent Lyme disease symptoms who tolerated COVID-19 vaccination without significant worsening of her illness.
Related Articles
Severity of Lyme disease during the COVID-19 pandemic
Two patients with a history of Lyme disease describe their experiences after contracting COVID-19
Experiences of individuals with a history of Lyme disease who contracted COVID-19
COVID-19 vaccine side effects in individuals with Lyme disease
References
- Cameron DJ, McWhinney SR. Consequences of contracting COVID-19 or taking the COVID-19 vaccine for individuals with a history of Lyme disease. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023;12(3):493.
Dr. Daniel Cameron, MD, MPH
Lyme disease clinician with over 30 years of experience and past president of ILADS.
Symptoms • Testing • Coinfections • Recovery • Pediatric • Prevention
The vaccine is harmful according to the release of side effects from the manufacture and its suppressed history thus far . Lyme patients have seen the CDC in action before with member charged over their conflict of interests. To endorse this vaccine at such a point in time only indicates we are at a very troubling point in time with medicine and big pharma .If you want to continue to be a puppet with cytokine storms and auto immune responses i would get it to .Its been 24 years for me with Lyme, the history of treatment that i have witnessed with my involvement in Occupational Health and Safety( corruption ) has educated me on how to follow the politics and this virus since day one. We had safe treatments other than the vax unfortunately like lyme disease it created an opportunity for investment and monetary reward rather than a humanitarian cure .The Theory of Plum Island is looking more feasible every day as humanity is plagued with greed and the need for power we are witnessing with a vaxxine that doesn’t work like any other vaxxine pushed upon the public . This article is disgrace ,Doctor Cameron .
Thanks for raising your concerns. This COVID-19 and Lyme disease Survey merely shares the experience of individuals with Lyme disease who contracted covid, or taken the vaccine or refused the vaccine. The next blog will reflect the concern of individuals with Lyme disease who have been hesitant or refused to take the vaccine.
Well said
The fact that vaccinated lyme patients were less ill than unvaccinated ones may just reflect the sicker patients’ inability to get out of the house to get vaccinated, or their lack of concern for contracting covid because they rarely leave their homes.
Great question. There were 616 individuals with a history of Lyme disease who were vaccinated. At least we know their experience. In other words, that group was at least not worse.
I AGREE !
Wow. People and groups will do anything to push this experimental injection onto people. I’m really disappointed in this take as there is much to be concerned about. this by all means it not a “one size fits all” experimental injection that modulates your DNA. With no proper testing. VAERS death reports have already exceeded all tested past vaccines combined so until there is factual time tested proof I will not be part of this experiment. I’ve read too many reports from the people who are pushing this multi billion dollar opportunity (for them) on the masses.
So grateful I passed on this horrendous shot. Someone told me they know a Lyme dr that said all his patients that took the shot are in relapse and he has no idea what to do. This dr – Cameron – was pushing them. Him and Horowitz. Shameful.