A study led by Dr. Hyeon Seok Hwang from Kyung Hee University Medical Center in South Korea, published in Scientific Reports has identified a significant increase in reported cases of vaccine-associated kidney injuries.
Analysing over 120 million global adverse drug reaction reports from the WHO’s VigiBase, researchers found a disproportionate number of acute kidney injury (AKI), glomerulonephritis (GN), and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) cases linked to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
The study suggests younger individuals, particularly adolescents aged 12–17, may face higher risks, raising concerns over vaccine safety monitoring.
While the findings highlight statistical associations rather than causation, researchers call for further investigation into potential immunological and genetic predispositions, pre-vaccination kidney screenings for high-risk individuals, and long-term safety surveillance.
Despite limitations such as reporting bias, the study underscores the need for continued pharmacovigilance and transparent public health discussions on vaccine-related risks.
