If you have received the COVID-19 vaccine, you may have experienced side effects such as pain at the injection site, headache, and fever. All of these are common side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.
You may also have found information about people who are paralyzed after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. While it has certainly been documented, it is also very rare.
It is important to know that the benefits of getting a COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risks of rare side effects. COVID-19 has caused more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Vaccines are very effective in preventing hospitalization, serious illness, and death from COVID-19 infection.
Read on for more information on COVID-19 vaccine and paralysis.
There are several potential causes of paralysis after a vaccine against COVID-19. We will explore each of them in more detail below.
However, before you begin, it is important to reiterate that paralysis after a vaccine against COVID-19 is very rare. Of the millions of doses administered worldwide, only a small percentage of people reported paralysis.
Overall, the benefits of vaccination in protection against serious illness and death from COVID-19 outweigh the risks that may be associated with vaccines.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) occurs when the immune system attacks parts of the peripheral nervous system, which are the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. This can lead to weakness and paralysis.
It is unknown at this time what exactly GBS is causing. However, many times, it starts after a viral infection. In very rare cases, GBS has also been documented after vaccination.
In the United States, GBS has been associated primarily with Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is different from the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines because it uses an adenovirus vector.
A 2022 study found that the rate of GBS in the first 21 days after receiving the J&J vaccine was almost 21 times higher than that of mRNA vaccines. There was no increased risk of GBS after vaccination with mRNA vaccines.
GBS can affect anyone at any age. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that most cases of GBS after the J&J vaccine have been reported in men 50 years of age or older.
The high risk of GBS is one of the reasons why the CDC recommends mRNA vaccines over the J&J vaccine. MRNA vaccines are also more effective than the J&J vaccine.
Bell paralysis
Bell’s palsy is a type of temporary facial paralysis that usually affects one side of the face. The exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown, but inflammation or swelling that affects the facial nerve plays an important role.
Bell’s palsy has been reported more frequently after COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. These are the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. The two large-scale clinical trials of these vaccines reported rare cases of Bell’s palsy:
- In the Pfizer-BioNTech trials, of the 43,252 participants, four people in the vaccine group had Bell’s palsy compared to no individual in the control group.
- In the Moderna trials, of the 30,350 trial participants, three people in the vaccine group had Bell’s palsy and one person in the control group.
However, more recent research has not linked mRNA vaccines to an increased risk of Bell’s palsy. In addition, another 2021 study found that there is a higher risk of Bell’s palsy after having COVID-19 than after getting vaccinated.
Transverse myelitis
Transverse myelitis occurs when the spinal cord becomes inflamed. The disease causes symptoms that affect the body in a band-like pattern and may include weakness, pain, and sensory changes.
Transverse myelitis occurs due to damage to the nerve fibers of the spinal cord. Although the cause of some cases may remain unknown, a variety of factors can lead to the development of transverse myelitis, such as:
- autoimmune activity, which may include:
- Autoimmune responses after an infection or vaccination
- autoimmune activity due to cancer
- infections
- inflammatory conditions affecting the spinal cord
There have been reports of cases of transverse myelitis occurring after COVID-19 vaccination.
Both the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and the Modern vaccine are represented in these reports. Most, but not all, of these individuals were older.
Transverse myelitis has also been reported after the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, which, like the J&J vaccine, uses an adenovirus vector. However, this vaccine is not currently authorized for use in the United States.
As mentioned, documented cases of transverse myelitis after vaccination against COVID-19 have been largely limited to reports and case series. Compared to the number of vaccine doses given worldwide, this effect is very rare.
In fact, a 2021 case report noted that as of April 21, 2021, only 45 reports of transverse myelitis had been reported following vaccination against COVID-19 in the Adverse Event Notification System. of the vaccine (VAERS).
Neuralgic amyotrophy
Neuralgic amyotrophy is a rare disease that involves progressive pain and weakness in the shoulder and arm. Also called Parsonage-Turner syndrome.
Neuralgic amyotrophy is thought to be caused by an abnormal inflammatory response of the immune system. Some factors that have been linked to the disease include:
- infections, especially viral infections
- recent vaccination
- injury or trauma
- existing autoimmune conditions
Similar to transverse myelitis, reports of neuralgic amyotrophy following the COVID-19 vaccine are limited to several case studies. It is reported after the three COVID-19 vaccines currently approved or authorized in the United States.
Symptoms of paralysis to be considered after a COVID-19 vaccine may depend on the cause. Let’s break them down now.
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Possible symptoms of GBS are:
- tingling in the hands or feet
- weakness in the legs that eventually extends to the upper body
- impaired movement and coordination
- difficulty chewing and swallowing
- difficulty breathing
- problems with bowel and bladder control
- changes in heart rate or blood pressure
Bell paralysis
Symptoms of Bell’s palsy may include:
- facial weakness or paralysis that often affects one side of the face and appears suddenly
- problems blinking or making facial expressions
- mouth drop
- drooling
- changes in the tear
- difficulty eating and drinking
- changes in your sense of taste
- increased sensitivity to loud noise
- facial pain
Transverse myelitis
Symptoms of transverse myelitis may include:
- weakness or paralysis of the legs and arms that develops over a period of hours to days
- pain that usually begins in the lower back and radiates to the legs, arms, or torso
- changes in sensation, such as sensation of needles, burning, or numbness
- problems with bowel and bladder control
Neuralgic amyotrophy
If you develop neurotic amyotrophy, you may experience:
- shoulder or arm pain that suddenly appears, often affecting only one side of the body
- progressive muscle weakness or atrophy in the affected area
- reduced reflexes
- loss of sensitivity in the affected area
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 70 percent of people with GBS recover completely.
Treatment of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).
Various GBS treatments can be used, including:
Treatment of Bell’s palsy
The prospects for Bell’s palsy are usually quite good. The condition is temporary and most people regain facial muscle function in 6 months. When they start shortly after symptoms begin, steroids can aid in recovery.
Treatment of transverse myelitis
Although many people recover from transverse myelitis, it can sometimes take months to years. Treatment is similar to GBS, often involving plasma exchange or therapy with immunoglobulins, steroids, and physical therapy.
Treatment with neuralgic amyotrophy
Treatment of neuralgic amyotrophy may involve pain management, steroids, and physical therapy.
Although it can be solved by itself, its view varies greatly between individuals. About 10 to 20 percent of people may experience persistent pain or difficulty exercising the affected arm.
Paralysis has been documented following COVID-19 vaccines. However, it only happens rarely. Overall, the benefits of getting vaccinated against COVID-19 outweigh the potential risks associated with vaccination.
Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you may have about COVID-19 vaccines. They can help you resolve any questions you may have.
If you begin to experience symptoms of paralysis after receiving a vaccine against COVID-19, contact your doctor immediately. A quick treatment can help improve your chances of a full recovery.