The side effect occurred mostly in men 50 or older two weeks afterward.
July 12, 2021, 8:24 PM
• 4 min read
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday confirmed 100 preliminary reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome among the 12.8M doses administered of J&J vaccine.
"These cases have largely been reported about two weeks after vaccination and mostly in males, many aged 50 years and older," the CDC said in a statement.
Similar issues have not been reported tied to Pfizer or Moderna.
A member of the Philadelphia Fire Department prepares a dose of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site setup in Philadelphia, March 26, 2021.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder that occurs when a person’s immune system damages nerve cells and causes muscle weakness or paralysis. Most people recover fully although some will report long-term nerve damage.
According to the CDC, the majority of people who develop GBS report the symptoms after having a respiratory illness, including the flu, or getting sick with diarrhea. One common cause is a bacteria tied to eating uncooked poultry.
"Most people fully recover from GBS," the CDC said.
A student receives the Johnson & Johnson vaccine on the campus of the University of Charleston in Charleston, W.Va., April 8, 2021.
It’s also linked to vaccination, though rare, and is why the CDC monitors reports of GBS each flu season.
The CDC estimates there is one to two additional GBS cases per million doses of flu vaccine administered.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
