I developed gout in my mid 20s after a viral infection. My uric acid is always in the normal range and I get stereotypical gout symptoms including Tophi now that I’m 50. I can usually predict a gout attack when I get a cold, I have a feeling my immune system gets ramped up and my feet are collateral damage.

So I guess my point is, what percentage of the population is like my case and will eventually get an autoimmune issue from a viral infection? Omicron looks like it’s be eventually going to infect everyone, so avoiding the vaccine for a one in a million autoimmune reaction might be delaying the inevitable when you get infected by Omicron for real.

I have had autoimmune reactions from other viral infections too.

I don't think I got any worse after COVID-19 vaccination so I don't regret having it done if it helps the overall public health situation.

> Maybe the people affected would have got the same autoimmune reaction from both vaccination and infection.

Hard to tell directly, as it also has to do with how the virus spreads during an infection in a given person. But it is certainly a good area of research.