A major new peer-reviewed scoping review by Dr. Claudia Chaufan et al. analyzed 109 published studies on COVID-19 vaccination and autoimmune disease -- and the findings are worrisome.
Across dozens of countries and all major vaccine platforms, the same pattern emerged: COVID-19 vaccination is repeatedly associated with autoimmune flares, relapses, and entirely new autoimmune diseases -- including multiple sclerosis, lupus, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and more.
More than half the studies suggested a causal link.
The authors examined 109 published studies spanning every major research design used in autoimmune safety literature. This diversity strengthens the signal: the same autoimmune patterns appear regardless of methodology, country, or vaccine platform.
36 out of 109 studies (33.1%): Included flares, relapses, worsening symptoms, and new-onset MS.
31 out of 109 studies (28.4%): Included cutaneous lupus flares, multi-organ lupus onset, severe pediatric SLE, lupus myocarditis, etc.
16 out of 109 studies (14.7%): Included abrupt-onset autoimmune diabetes, DKA, beta-cell failure, hyperglycemia, and worsening glycemic control.
13 out of 109 studies (11.9%): Included both flares and new-onset hyperthyroidism, often within days to weeks post-vaccination.
13 out of 109 studies (11.9%): Included severe RA flares, joint swelling, EBV reactivation, and new-onset RA.
Included within the autoimmune thyroiditis pool.
No flares were documented -- but new-onset Hashimoto's cases were reported.
11 out of 109 studies (10.1%): Reported clusters or overlapping conditions (e.g., SLE + antiphospholipid syndrome, MS + autoimmune antibody emergence, thyroiditis + diabetes).
Taken together, these data form the most comprehensive map to date of autoimmune outcomes following COVID-19 vaccination. Across 109 studies spanning every major autoimmune category, researchers documented: recurrent autoimmune flares, new diagnoses in already autoimmune-vulnerable patients, and entirely new autoimmune diseases in previously healthy people.
The signal appears across continents, across vaccine platforms, and across every study design -- including case reports, case series, observational cohorts, and controlled data.