The FDA announced Monday that there could be a possible link between the J&J vaccine and the neuro-disorder known as Guillain-Barre Syndrome.
So far, prelim reports would seem to indicate that the autoimmune disease GBS, have been detected in at least one hundred recipients of the vaccine. According to the ANA – the American Neurological Association – almost a dozen cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome had been discovered several weeks after recipients had received the Astra-Zeneca vaccine. The cases were from India and England, which involved a variant of the syndrome which involved facial weakness.
People over the age of 50 are alleged to be at a greater risk, with at least two-thirds experiencing symptoms several days to weeks after developing diarreah, sinus or lung illnesses.
The FDA is urging recipients of the vaccine to get immediate medical attention if they have difficulty walking, difficulty with facial movements involving speaking, chewing, swallowing, and or tingling and weakness in the arms and legs, that may worsen and spread to other areas of the body.
According to Jeanne Marrazzo, who is the director of infectious diseases at Alabama University at Birmingham, said the risk of Guillain-Barre is so rare that it should not prevent people from getting vaccinated. She said people can still get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine with virtually no risk, but this news should not be an excuse not to get vaccinated.
With certain voices in media sowing doubt and disinformation rather than information on the effectiveness of the vaccines, it will be difficult for healthcare providers to persuade some of their patients to get vaccinated.
Sources: Washington Post, myana.org, Politico, The Week.
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