Doctors have reported a rare case where a Covid booster shot reactivated tuberculosis (TB) in a 47-year-old man in India. The man had a dormant TB infection and was symptom-free until five days after receiving the booster. He developed fever, fatigue, and night sweats. Doctors diagnosed him with tuberculosis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS), the first known case linked to a Covid booster.

His immune system, strengthened by the vaccine, aggressively attacked the TB bacteria, causing excessive inflammation. Doctors stated: “We strongly suspect that the immune response precipitated by the mRNA booster vaccine may have resulted in the development of the IRIS syndrome in this patient.” High-dose steroids helped manage his condition, and after months of treatment, he recovered.

TB remains the leading infectious disease killer, causing over a million deaths annually. While Covid vaccines effectively prevent severe illness, mRNA vaccines have been associated with inflammatory reactions, including myocarditis and pericarditis in rare cases. This case highlights the potential for immune overreaction in individuals with latent infections.