Does COVID-19 vaccination increase the risk of ILD in a population level?

COVID-19 vaccination is effective in preventing severe pneumonia and complications from COVID-19. However, several case reports have raised the possibility that interstitial lung disease (ILD) may occur as a side effect of vaccination. This study aims to compare the incidence and risk of ILD in subjects who were vaccinated for COVID-19 and those who were not. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. During a follow-up period of 6 months, the incidence rate of ILD was significantly lower in the vaccinated group than among controls and the hazards for developing ILD were also lower among the vaccinated group.