Risk of Guillain Barré Syndrome 6 Times Higher After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination—7 Times Higher After Second Jab: Journal 'PLOS ONE'
Eight times higher after the first dose in those older than 60 years.
A new study published on Friday in PLOS ONE found an increased risk of Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS) following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations.
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GBS is a neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, causing muscle weakness and, in severe cases, paralysis.
Italian researchers investigated the association of COVID vaccines with GBS in more than 15 million persons aged ≥12 years in Italy.
The study looked at individuals who received at least one COVID jab and were admitted to emergency care/hospital for GBS from December 27, 2020, through September 30, 2021.
Increased risk of GBS was 6.8 times higher after the first (RI = 6.83; 95% CI 2.14-21.85), 7.4 times higher after the second dose (RI = 7.41; 2.35-23.38) of mRNA-1273 (Moderna), and 6.5 times higher after the first dose of ChAdOx1-S (AstraZeneca/Oxford) (RI = 6.52; 2.88-14.77).
Those older than 60 years were eight times more likely at risk of GBS after the first (RI = 8.03; 2.08-31.03) dose of the Moderna jab.
The same group was 7.7 times more likely to acquire GBS after the second dose (RI = 7.71; 2.38-24.97) of the same jab.
Those aged 40-59 were 4.5 times more likely (RI = 4.50; 1.37-14.79) to acquire GBS after the first dose of the AstraZeneca/Oxford shot.
Those aged ≥ 60 years were 6.8 times more likely (RI = 6.84; 2.56-18.28).
The study authors conclude that the Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID shots “were associated with an increased risk of GBS.”
They call for increased monitoring of the drugs’ benefit-risk profile, given “worldwide” inoculation campaigns:
“With the implementation of a worldwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign it is important the continuous monitoring of the suspected adverse events of these new vaccines as key component of any vaccination program for the evaluation of benefit-risk profile of vaccination,” the authors write.
“These findings are likely to be of relevance to regulators, health professionals and developers of clinical guidelines in the risk benefit evaluations of the COVID-19 vaccines.”
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The likelihood for a +60 person who already had Guillain-Barre in the past (me) must be astronomical. So glad I did not submit!