COVID vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)

GBS itself isn’t a virus but often follows infection with a virus or bacteria. So this doesn’t become a latent virus in the body. However some side effects from having the Guillian-Barre Syndrome can have a lasting impact.

Thank you.

Did you research about Covid-19 Injections at all? I would. Then make your decision.

I got a very bad case of GBS in 2008(coded twice). It took me approx. 6 years to start to heal. I have permanent nerve damage in which I will have to take Gabapentin for the rest of my life. I would love to have the vaccine, but do not want to risk being completely paralyzed again and going through the living hell in the hospital. I wish that someone could give me a truthful answer, based on facts and trial results, on whether I can have the vaccine.

Hello @debbieker, Welcome to Connect. Here's some information from the CDC on safety of getting the vaccine if you previously had GBS.

"Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) - People who have previously had GBS may receive a COVID-19 vaccine. To date, no cases of GBS have been reported following vaccination in participants in the mRNA COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. One case of GBS was reported in a vaccinated participant in the Johnson & Johnson Janssen COVID-19 Vaccine clinical trial (compared to one GBS case among those who received placebo). With few exceptions, the independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) general best practice guidelines for immunization do not include a history of GBS as a precaution to vaccination with other vaccines." -- COVID-19 Vaccines for People with Underlying Medical Conditions: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/underlying-conditions.html

What information have you seen that gives you concern?

As much as I would like to have the vaccine, I would need a guarantee that I would not be paralyzed again. That ordeal was excruciating! I've been told by experts in the medical field that know me personally, that I should not have the vaccine.

I'm sorry that you are so fearful of a side effect which has not been confirmed anyone with respect to the mRNA Covid vaccine and only twice with Johnson & Johnson, when about 400,000,000 doses have been administered in the US. 2 out of 400,000,000 is about as close to 100% as I can imagine.

On the other hand, 36,000,000 have had Covid infections, and hundreds of thousands are dealing with long haul symptoms, which include GBS and other neuropathic conditions.

There are absolutely no 100% guarantees in medicine, or life, including any guarantee that another infection, Covid or not, could cause another GBS episode, with or without paralysis.

You need to make your own decisions, I hope you will think about the numbers, and resign yourself to stating isolated for the foreseeable future if you choose not to get vaccinated.

As I write this tonight, I have been notified that a friend, who didn't think vaccination was necessary, is fighting for his life in an ICU and on a ventilator. I am heartbroken.
Sue

I'm with you. I already had Covid (over 70 yo with Lyme and autoimmune disease) and although it was unpleasant for a week I don't believe there have been serious consequences. My antibody level virtually guarantees that all known strains of Covid will pass me by in the future. In addition I now have T-cell immunity which will kick in when titers start to wane. Despite the daily scare reporting indicating that the "vaccine" is a life saver most people who get the virus are survivors but little reporting is done to give anyone who does not agree to the shot any confidence. Israel reports that a majority of its population being vaccinated has not stopped the inflow of Covid positive hospital patients. Perhaps doing more research will help you make up your mind and keep you focused on staying well without the shot. There are many supplements that may be helpful in preventing the disease and treatments that can be given to people who become ill.

I had Covid in January 2021 and GBS many years ago so i did much research and ask lots of questions before i got vaccine. But finally decided to get the shots. Got both shots this month and other than a mild tired feeling for one day, I have been fine. At this point i am glad i did.

Thanks for your positive report.