A recent study involving 1,745 healthcare workers in Switzerland has revealed that mRNA COVID-19 booster shots are associated with a higher risk of influenza-like illness (ILI) and increased work absences. Published in Nature’s Communications Medicine, the research found that individuals who received recent boosters had a significantly greater chance of falling ill compared to those unvaccinated.
The study focused on ILI, characterized by a sudden onset of fever and at least one respiratory symptom within seven days. During the study period, national surveillance indicated that around 21% of ILI cases were due to COVID-19, 20% to influenza, and the remainder to other respiratory viruses. The findings suggest that mRNA boosters may increase susceptibility to various pathogens.
According to the study’s data, individuals with three doses had a 56% higher risk of ILI (aIRR 1.56), while those with four doses faced a 70% increased risk (aIRR 1.70). The effect was most pronounced shortly after vaccination (aIRR 1.32). Additionally, those with three doses experienced a 49% rise in workdays lost due to illness (aIRR 1.49), and four-dose recipients saw a 50% increase (aIRR 1.50).
Inverse probability weighting confirmed these associations, showing an adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR) of 1.26 for recent boosters.
This Swiss study aligns with seven other studies indicating an increased infection risk linked to COVID-19 vaccines. For instance, Shrestha et al.’s research at Cleveland Clinic showed a heightened COVID-19 risk with more doses administered: one dose led to a +107% risk increase, while three or more doses resulted in a +253% rise.
Similarly, Feldstein et al., from the CDC, reported that Pfizer-vaccinated children without prior infection had a +159% infection risk and a +257% symptomatic COVID-19 risk.
Additional studies by Perez et al., Ioannou et al., Nakatani et al., Eythorsson et al., and Chemaitelly et al. also supported these findings by highlighting increased infection risks or negative vaccine effectiveness over time.
These results raise concerns about mRNA technology’s role in infectious disease management and call for reconsideration of its use in public health strategies.
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