The Impact Of COVID-19 Vaccination On Anosmia And Ageusia: An Online Survey

Abstract

The long-term impact of COVID-19 has been a matter of discussion and research ever since the infection caused a global pandemic. Among the many manifestations of the virus, its effect on taste and smell has been a significant point of study and observation [1,2]. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between loss of taste and smell and vaccination status, alongside other factors that influenced these symptoms in the general population after contracting COVID-19. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey (N = 257) in May 2022. We found that the reported incidence of loss of smell and taste decreased as the number of vaccine doses increased. Participants who had received at least one dose were less likely to report loss of taste and/or smell during their infection, and those who had received a booster reported these symptoms least often of all. Vaccinated participants also tended to report shorter symptom duration. Taken together, the findings point to a positive influence of vaccination not only on whether these symptoms occurred, but on how long they lasted.