Infectious Disease Specialist Questions Infectious Disease Specialist

Moderna Covid 19 Vaccine?

My husband received his 1st vaccine yesterday. As a joke, he stuck a magnet to the injection site. It stuck. Thinking it was a fluke, he tried another magnet, it stuck as well. I'm concerned about this. I have an autoimmune disorder, Hashimoto's, and I have unexplained inflammation episodes on occasion. Should I be concerned about taking the vaccine?

Female | 47 years old

7 Answers

InfectiousDiseaseSpecialistInfectiousDiseaseSpecialist
I am unable to explain why the magnet stuck to the injection site; however, I would start on the COVID 19 vaccine series ASAP. With an autoimmune disorder you are at a higher risk of a worse outcome if you do contract Covid. If you've already had COVID, it is still best to complete the vaccine series and get a booster.
I am not sure what your husband's "magnet experiment" was trying to show. But there is nothing in the vaccine shot responsible for the magnet sticking. I understand that there is a lot of misinformation about the vaccines circulating for example that vaccines include microchips or other tracking devices which is complete nonsense. Hashimoto thyroiditis is not uncommon- with 1-2% of persons in the US and more women than men. The currently authorized vaccines for COVID-19 vaccines include people with autoimmune disorders. So autoimmune disorders are not a contraindication to getting vaccinated. If you are taking medications that suppress the immune system for example prednisone you are at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and worse outcome of the infection-and for those type of person's there is a recommendation to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Talk to your doctor who is treating your autoimmune disease to get more personal guidance.
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Not at all!!
No
Thanks for the question. Interesting, but no, there is no concern for your conditions.

Good day to you. Thanks for your question.

It is very difficult and risky to give the wright answer to your query. I do suggest you visit your physician and raise the question. 

Regards, 
I do not have any idea what the magnet experience means, but there is a reason why people with autoimmune disease should not get any of the Covid vaccines. Go ahead, get the vaccine.

Carl Lauter, MD