This retrospective cohort study used aggregated US electronic health records (2006–2025) to assess whether COVID-19, HPV, varicella, live herpes zoster, or recombinant herpes zoster vaccines were associated with new-onset idiopathic uveitis (NIU), comparing vaccinated patients to propensity-score matched unvaccinated controls at 3, 6, and 12 months.
All five vaccines were linked to significantly lower NIU risk at 12 months: COVID-19 (RR 0.35; 65% reduction), HPV (RR 0.44; 56% reduction), varicella (RR 0.29; 71% reduction), live zoster (RR 0.32; 68% reduction), and recombinant zoster (RR 0.31; 69% reduction). Results held after excluding patients with prior infection diagnoses.
Retrospective design limits causal inference. Total sample size and demographic details are not reported. Residual confounding from unmeasured health-seeking behavior differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups cannot be excluded.
Routine vaccinations — including COVID-19, HPV, varicella, and zoster vaccines — appear protective against new-onset idiopathic uveitis. Clinicians can reassure patients that these vaccines are not associated with increased uveitis risk and may in fact reduce it.
