Tabriz University of Medical Sciences BioImpacts 2228-5652 13 4 2023 07 01 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-triggered autoimmunity: Molecular mimicry and/or bystander activation of the immune system 269 273 10.34172/bi.2023.27494 EN Azam Safary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8997-2003 Mostafa Akbarzadeh-Khiavi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1552-6537 Jaleh Barar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0105-919X Yadollah Omidi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0067-2475 EDITORIAL 10.34172/bi.2023.27494 2022 07 28 2022 12 18 Induced autoimmunity or autoinflammatory-like conditions as a rare vaccine-related adverse event have been reported following COVID-19 vaccination. Such inadvertent adverse reactions have raised somewhat concerns about the long-term safety of the developed vaccines. Such multifactorial phenomena may be related to the cross-reactivity between the viral-specific antigens with the host self-proteins through molecular mimicry mechanism and/or nonspecific bystander activation of the non-target antigen-independent immunity by the entities of the vaccine products. However, due to the low incidence of the reported/identified individuals and insufficient evidence, autoimmunity following the COVID-19 vaccination has not been approved. Thereby, it seems that further designated studies might warrant post-monitoring of the inevitable adverse immunologic reactions in the vaccinated individuals, especially among hypersensitive cases, to address possible immunological mechanisms induced by the viral vaccines, incorporated adjuvants, and even vaccine delivery systems.