​If you’re living with epilepsy, you might worry that getting a vaccine, like a COVID-19 vaccine, could trigger seizures. Some cases of seizures have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination.

This article will explain more about the risk of seizures with vaccines, specifically for people already living with epilepsy.

Types of COVID-19 Vaccines

There are currently five COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The 2024-2025 formulas are specifically designed to target the most recent circulating variants, KP.2 and JN.1:

• Comirnaty — The 2024-2025 formula is FDA-approved for people who are 12 or older.
• Moderna — The 2024-2025 formula is authorized for individuals between 6 months and 11 years of age.
• Novavax — The 2024-2025 formula is authorized for those who are 12 years old or older.
• Pfizer — The 2024-2025 formula is authorized for people aged 6 months through 11 years.
• Spikevax — The 2024-2025 formula is FDA-approved for people who are 12 or older.

Pfizer, Moderna, Comirnaty, and Spikevax vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. These mRNA vaccines contain a small piece of mRNA that is injected into your muscle. This mRNA serves as a blueprint, instructing your cells to produce a harmless part of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This process helps your immune system recognize and defend against SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) in case of a real infection.

Novavax uses a protein-based vaccine. It introduces a harmless piece of the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly into your body, which similarly trains your immune system to recognize and respond to the virus.

Speak with your health care provider about whether these vaccines may be right for you.

Epilepsy and the COVID-19 Booster

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people living with epilepsy have questioned the safety of receiving a COVID-19 booster. Currently, most people are recommended to receive just one annual COVID-19 shot now, as boosters are generally no longer required. However, individuals with weakened immune systems or children aged 6 months to 4 years may need more than one dose of the latest vaccine for optimal protection.

Vaccination for People Living With Epilepsy

In some parts of the world, such as China, people with epilepsy were once considered a COVID-19 vaccine restricted group. This meant that some people with epilepsy were advised against receiving the COVID-19 vaccine by their health care providers. However, more recent research has led to a shift in this perspective. A 2024 study from China now encourages neurologists to recommend COVID-19 vaccination to people with epilepsy, as long as they haven’t had a seizure in the previous year or don’t have other medical reasons to avoid the vaccine.

Although some individuals with epilepsy have reported worsening seizures after vaccination, studies show that only about 5 percent experience an increase in seizure frequency. This is most often seen in individuals with more severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, and it's still unclear if the vaccines are the direct cause​​. These findings suggest that people with unmanaged seizures before vaccination may be at higher risk for worsening seizures afterward.

If you’re concerned about how the COVID-19 vaccine might affect your seizures, talk to your health care provider and neurologist. Your risk of post-vaccination risk for seizures may differ from that of the general population.

Several MyEpilepsyTeam members have shared concerns and want to hear about others’ experiences getting vaccinated. Others have shared positive experiences. One said, “No seizures from the shots, but my seizures worsened when I had COVID.”

Another shared, “I get all flu shots and COVID shots and have never had an issue.”

However, another member said, “I feel that getting a COVID-19 shot definitely made seizures come on more so.”

Because the risk of seizures is highly individual, it’s important to evaluate your own symptoms and history. Work closely with your doctors or epilepsy specialists to address any concerns and reduce anxiety about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Is There a Link Between COVID-19 and Seizures?

In addition to concerns about seizures after vaccination, many MyEpilepsyTeam members also wonder whether COVID-19 itself could worsen their seizures. Members who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who have not have weighed in on the conversation.

One member asked, “Has anyone gotten sick from COVID-19 and found that there was any effect on their seizures?”

While responses varied, several members reported negative effects of the virus on their epilepsy, including seizures. For example, one person said, “Since getting COVID-19, my seizures have been off the rails.”

Although there is a small risk of seizures after vaccination, a SARS-CoV-2 infection is known to cause more severe complications, including seizures. People with epilepsy are at higher risk for developing severe symptoms from COVID-19, including respiratory (breathing) issues that may require hospitalization. That risk increases among those who are not vaccinated.

Are Seizures a Contraindication for Vaccines?

In most cases, seizures aren’t a contraindication for getting vaccinated. However, if you or your family have a history of seizures, it’s important to talk to your doctor before getting vaccinated. Seizures are not listed as a serious side effect of COVID-19 vaccines by the CDC.

Since all approved COVID-19 vaccines help protect against severe illness, the CDC and other health organizations, like the Epilepsy Foundation, recommend everyone 6 months and older — including people with epilepsy — get vaccinated after consulting their health care provider.

Reports of Seizures in Vaccinated Individuals

Several studies worldwide have investigated reports of seizures in people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. The CDC estimates that approximately 3 in 100,000 people experience seizures each year following a COVID-19 vaccination. These seizures typically occur within four weeks of the vaccine dose and are de novo, meaning they are the first seizures these individuals have ever experienced. They’re also referred to as new-onset seizures.

These events are recorded in the CDC’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), which tracks possible side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and other immunizations. Notably, these reports focus on new seizures, not the worsening of existing seizures in people with epilepsy.

Several studies have explored whether COVID-19 vaccines worsen epilepsy symptoms. For example, in Japan, people with epilepsy were monitored after various dosages of the COVID-19 vaccine. Of 282 participants who’d been vaccinated across four hospitals, 16 of them (5.7 percent) showed worsening seizures. Most of these occurred within 48 hours of vaccination. However, after six months, no long-term side effects were observed.

An Italian study determined that less than 8 percent of individuals with epilepsy reported seizure worsening after vaccination. These individuals tended to have more severe, treatment-resistant epilepsy.

A 2024 Turkish study published in the journal Heliyon showed that fewer than 6 percent of individuals with epilepsy experienced an increase in seizures following COVID-19 vaccination. Similarly, a 2024 study from Hong Kong, published in the journal Vaccines, reported that 5.3 percent of 786 participants with epilepsy increased seizure activity following vaccination.

These findings suggest that people with existing or frequent seizures are at a higher risk for temporary worsening after vaccination. However, it’s important to note that these studies show an association, not causation. The majority of people with epilepsy do not experience any change in their symptoms after vaccination​.

In general, it remains difficult to determine whether the COVID-19 vaccine directly causes seizures or other epilepsy-related symptoms. If you have concerns, consult your health care provider to discuss whether an mRNA vaccine may be a less risky option.

Risk Factors for Seizures in People With Epilepsy

The side effects of vaccines for people with epilepsy are generally similar to those experienced by others, including soreness at the injection site, fever, chills, fatigue, and headache.

One important consideration is fever, which can be a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine or a symptom of COVID-19 infection. For people with epilepsy, a high fever can increase the likelihood of seizures, especially if they are already prone to them. This connection between fever and seizure risk is important to discuss with your health care provider.

It’s worth noting that COVID-19 vaccines underwent extensive clinical trials before receiving FDA approval or emergency use authorization. In fact, these vaccines have been under the most rigorous safety monitoring in U.S. history. To minimize risks, including the risk of seizures, it’s essential to work with your health care provider and neurologist to understand your risk factors and develop strategies to manage them.

Advice for Getting Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Medical research indicates that COVID-19 vaccines — like other vaccines — don't cause epilepsy, worsen its symptoms, or directly trigger epileptic seizures.

COVID Vaccine and Epilepsy Medication

COVID-19 vaccines and treatments generally do not interact negatively with anti-seizure medications. However, it's important to inform your neurologist if you are being treated for COVID-19 to ensure your care is well-coordinated.

Speak With Your Doctor

The CDC does not restrict people with epilepsy from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, as long as they have not had adverse reactions to this or similar vaccines in the past. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the risks, even for people with epilepsy. In fact, COVID-19 itself poses a much greater risk of neurological complications than the vaccine.

As with any vaccination or treatment, it's important to consult your neurology team before making a decision to ensure it aligns with your health needs and treatment plan.

Find Your Team

MyEpilepsyTeam is the social network for people with epilepsy and their loved ones. On MyEpilepsyTeam, more than 123,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with epilepsy and epileptic seizures.

Do you have epilepsy, and have you received a COVID-19 vaccine? Share your experience and questions in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.