Iron Depletion in Blood related to COVID?

Posted by stellm @stellm, Jun 11, 2021

Has there been any reports of iron depletion in the blood after receiving the Pfizer vaccine?

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@sueinmn

Hi Kathy, As much as I would like to have some "insider knowledge" about all the effects of Covid infections and the Covid vaccine, I am just another Mayo Connect member, with a lot of interest in the topic because my daughter, an ER nurse, got infected 18 months ago and is still having lingering problems.

When trying to answer questions, I search through all the available data online, including CDC, FDA, Mayo, the pharmas and other sources.

The vaccines are fairly new, so there are few published studies at this time because it takes many months to gather data, analyze it and write reports.

Since you have had this problem after both doses of their vaccine, and your doctor apparently found no other answers I suggest that your contact Pfizer directly to report the issue and ask for further guidance. That way, they will have a direct report, and be able to add your reaction to their knowledge base. This will lead to better information for you and for all of us in the future.
Sue

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Hi
I had moderna in May 2021 and I checked my ferritin levels in November and it was really low 6 . I’m also not sure if this is caused due to vaccine or just a coincidence. I’m planning to take booster but really worried if I should take it with low ferritin level. Did anyone take booster with low ferritin level ? Please add here it and that will really help.

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Have you tried lactoferrin?

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I've never had low hemoglobin or been anemic. I received Pfizer covid vaccine and ever since my hemoglobin and ferritin have decreased have decreased and my blood sugar keeps going up

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@smarly

I had the same experience, only I was hospitalized and received two blood transfusions as well as two iron infusions later. I had camera endoscopies and a colonoscopy that yielded no internal bleeding or other problems. I had every test imaginable, and everyone just threw up their hands about the cause. I just had another blood test, and my iron level is starting down again. It is very lonely out there because no one believes me, and I am excluded from certain activities because I have refused the booster shot. I should add that I have no history of anemia and am past menopause. I received the Moderna vaccine.

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I received Pfizer vaccine in February 2021. Ever since my hemoglobin has been going down ferritin and Iron are down. My blood sugar A1C continues to rise. Never had anemia before . Anyone have any successful treatments?

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@gss

I received Pfizer vaccine in February 2021. Ever since my hemoglobin has been going down ferritin and Iron are down. My blood sugar A1C continues to rise. Never had anemia before . Anyone have any successful treatments?

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I have just started taking some iron supplements after having two expensive iron infusions. My recent blood tests showed iron levels starting to go down again, but the rest of the blood test was fairly normal. I take a lot of other supplements as well and do not intend to get a booster, but I think that should be everyone's individual decision. Honestly, I'm in the dark here too, but I would suggest taking supplements and see if it helps. I would also report your experience to VAERS. My best wishes to you and hope you can be back to normal soon.

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Hi all, I'm following this discussion already since August 2021, because also I have the same story. I'm a 38 year old male from The Netherlands and I do have a history of iron anemia, although last time was 10 years ago. I had very mild common side-effects after my first Moderna vaccination on the 13th of June, 2021. However I got ill quite badly for four days after my second Moderna vaccination on the 18th of July 2021. Immediately the days after I was feeling better I noticed that I was short of breath and couldn't even walk 100 meters without panting and stopping. Initially I thought it was something that would go away on its own, but it didn't. It improved a bit, but anything more than walking the stairs was already too much. Later I also noticed that I got sour muscles quickly after doing simple things like brushing teeth or doing the dishes. Since I had no issues whatsoever before my vaccination it was a strong connection in my opinion, but I wanted to keep an open mind and consulted my GP.

The GP ordered blood tests and those were showing Hb 5.2 mmol/L, Ht 0.31 L/L, ferritine 5.0 ug/L, iron 3.0 umol/L, M.C.V. 64.0 fL and transferrin saturation 3 %. So I was prescribed Ferrofumaraat 200 mg twice a week... After two months my blood values did not change at all, so my dose was increased to thrice a week and I was referred to a hematologist. The hematologist suspected an internal inflammation and thus ordered a lower endoscopy (no upper endoscopy was required, as iron absorption has been examined multiple times before). This did not lead to any abnormal results, so an video capsule endoscopy has been ordered, which is now planned for the 14th of February 2022. But we already suspect that this will also not lead to any abnormal results, as there are no indications of inflammations whatsoever. After using the Ferrofumaraat for more than four months, another blood test was ordered, and once again, so significant increase in blood values were showing. So my hematologist ordered a blood infusion, which I received last Wednesday. After suffering from side-effects for 3 days, now the fourth day after the iron infusion I was able to play and run with my kids again without any breathing issues!

Like I said, I'm already following this discussion since August 2021, and I read the stories of people that are already further into the process than I'm currently in, which gives me an opportunity to have some sort of view into the future. The 28th of February I'm seeing the hematologist again, and I want to bring "our" findings in this discussion under his attention, and discuss the next steps to take.

It is nice to know that I'm not "crazy" and that I'm not the only one!

Kind regards,
Raymond

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@sueinmn

@maitri, @stellm & @trieste -
This is an interesting issue - I have a few questions for each of you, as we all look for answers about these new vaccines.

As I said in earlier posts, I have looked at both VAERS (the place to report reactions) and everything I could find through research, and this is a completely unreported issue to date. Additionally, my daughter a Covid health/triage nurse for a large health system has not heard of it either.

- Did you report the reaction where you received the vaccine or to your doc, so it could be recorded in VAERS?
- Were your low blood counts found as the result of your feeling ill after the vaccine, or during routine blood tests during other health care?
- Have the counts been repeated to see if they have improved?
- What did the doc have to say?
- Are you able to see your blood test results over time, to see if this is part of the normal fluctuations we all have?
- @trieste Did you or your husband have any other symptoms?

Sorry for the long list, but it certainly is curious that we have not seen any reports since Day 1, and would love to improve our knowledge of what is going on.
Thank you!
Sue

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I too am experiencing low iron, ferritin and hemoglobin after Pfizer vaccine. Along with elevated A1C levels.

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Is there anyone here who actually got rid of their ferritin issues after only a single iron infusion? I read stories about having multiple iron infusions, so I'm wondering if there is any end in sight, or that it is just a temporary solution...

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@stellm

Yes. My husband has never had any history of anemia or low iron. He received the Pfizer vaccine in March. He began feeling more tired over the next two months. He saw his physician and she suspected some type of internal bleeding based on the blood test, He had an upper and lower endoscopy. No internal bleeding was found. They are going to try the camera endoscopy next week. We don't think this is going to reveal anything. His iron, ferritin and red blood cell count is extremely low. The only change in has been receiving the vaccine.

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My mom received both Pfizer shots and then the booster and is experiencing the exact same thing right now. Like your husband she never had issues with low iron or red blood cell count. She is 73 years old.
She is currently in the process of getting the upper and lower endoscopy scheduled. Have you found anything out on your husband?

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Booster in mid November, passing out and extreme fatigue within a week. blood test starting in December, iron deficiency anemia. Now on iron pills, never had this before. Dr wanted standard endoscopy and colonoscopy….

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