COVID-Vaccinated 4x's More Likely to Have Neurological Symptoms: 'Increased Risk of Functional Neurological Disorders Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination' (European Journal of Neurology)
COVID vaccine "is associated with a significant short-term increased risk of FND and headache requiring hospitalization in an acute neurological setting."
A new peer-reviewed study published Tuesday in the European Journal of Neurology evaluated the link between SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and the onset of neurological syndromes.
Significantly, the Italian researchers were attempting to “challenge” the association between COVID-19 vaccines and the onset of acute functional neurological disorders (FNDs) in hospitalized patients.
The study involved 843 subjects, 411 unvaccinated and 432 vaccinated.
Compared to unvaccinated patients, vaccinated subjects hospitalized within the first 30 days after receiving the jab “exhibited higher prevalence of FNDs (12.3% vs. 3.6%; odds ratio 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.6–11.1) and headache (10.8% vs. 5%; odds ratio 4.1, 95% confidence interval 1.9–8.8).”
The FND cases following vaccinations also showed a “higher percentage of sensory symptoms and pain” compared to unvaccinated FND cases.
The study authors conclude, “SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is associated with a significant short-term increased risk of FND and headache requiring hospitalization in an acute neurological setting.”
The study, conducted from January 2021 to January 2022, included all neurological adult inpatients admitted to the Neurology Unit of the ASST Spedali Civili Hospital in Brescia, Italy.
Most patients received an mRNA vaccine, Pfizer’s BNT162b2 (67.9%) and Moderna’s mRNA-1273 (12.2%).
The researchers found that within the first month, 106 of vaccinated patients manifested neurological issues.
Another 71 had problems between one to two months later, and 255 after two months.
Vaccinated patients who experienced neurological issues in the first month were four times more likely to have neurological problems and four times more likely to have headaches:
“Compared to unvaccinated subjects, V < 30 days cases exhibited an increased risk of FNDs (odds ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–11.1, p = 0.004) and primary headache (OR 4.1, 95% CI 1.9–8.8, p = 0.001),” the study reads.
Post-vaccination neurological disorders included:
temporary sensory issues
painful sensations or sensory problems with headaches
combined sensory-motor deficits
double vision
and changes in walking with unsteadiness in one case.
The authors noted that cases associated with vaccination exhibited a “higher prevalence” among females.
None of the patients, vaccinated or not vaccinated, had been diagnosed with FND or neurological disease before.
The study authors ended their paper by emphasizing the link between vaccination and FNDs:
“The study indicated a notable correlation between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and a higher risk of FND and hospitalization for headaches in an acute care environment,” they write. “Furthermore, an interesting higher prevalence of sensory disturbances and pain was observed in these specific groups compared to unvaccinated FNDs. This might suggest that vaccination can trigger the development of FNDs possibly through physiological reactions (i.e., influenza-like symptoms or unilateral pain) in subjects with increased attention towards body signal.”