In a CNN.com news report that was updated on July 13th, 2021, it was reported that the Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine may potentially be playing a role in an increase in reports of neurological complications.
Here’s what you need to know.
First of all, the FDA updated the label on the J&J Covid vaccine on Monday, July 12th, 2021, with a warning about a possible increase in risk for developing Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a rare neurological complication.
The FDA report has not definitively established that the vaccine is a cause for the syndrome.
They’ve simply noted that there’s been an increase in cases, and that they seem to coincide with delivery of the J&J Covid vaccine.
Here’s a quote from an FDA statement that was released to CNN.
“Today, the FDA is announcing revisions to the vaccine recipient and vaccination provider fact sheets for the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) COVID-19 Vaccine to include information pertaining to an observed increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following vaccination…”
The report went on to say that ‘adverse events’ following the use of the J&J vaccine suggest that there may be an increased risk that users could develop Guillain-Barre syndrome sometime in the 42 days following vaccination.
Does The Johnson And Johnson Vaccine Actually Cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
According to the news report, ‘evidence suggests an association’ between increased GBS risk and the J&J vaccine. But there isn’t enough evidence to establish a true ‘causal relationship.’
What Is Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system actually attacks your nerves.
The first symptoms tend to be weakness and tingling in the extremities.
These symptoms appear mild at first, but can spread. Eventually, they can end up paralyzing the entire body.
Most people recover from it. It has a mortality rate of 4% to 7%.
Most people who develop the condition require hospitalization.
The exact cause for the disorder is unknown. But in most cases, it tends to appear days or weeks after digestive tract or respiratory infections.
Do the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna Vaccines Cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
According to the report, ‘no similar signal’ has been identified in the Pfizer-BioNtech or Moderna Vaccines. At this moment in time, this seems to be a risk that’s only associated with the J&J vaccine.
How Likely Are You To Get Guillain-Barré Syndrome If You Get Vaccinated?
According to statistics, 100 preliminary reports of the syndrome have been filed with the US government’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.
This is out of 12.8 million J&J vaccines that have been administered.
According to specialists, the chance of developing Guillain-Barré Syndrome after getting the J&J vaccine is very low.
Each year in the US, an estimated 3,000 to 6,000 cases of GBS are reported, and most people recover fully. Of the 100 reports that coincided with the J&J vaccination, 95 needed hospitalization, and one person has died.
Should You Still Get Vaccinated?
According to the CDC, even if getting the J&J vaccine increases your risk for the syndrome, you’re still safer overall to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus.