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Influenza Vaccines and Guillain Barré Syndrome

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Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21st Century

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Abstract

Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute immune-mediated polyradiculopathy affecting children and adults, which usually presents with acute flaccid paralysis. The association of GBS with vaccination first became a major concern during 1976 when an emerging strain of the influenza virus led to a mass immunization campaign to protect against a potential pandemic. The vaccines were associated with a small but significant increase in the risk of GBS in the weeks following vaccination. In subsequent years, there has been increased monitoring of adverse events relating to influenza vaccines. Assessments conducted following the 1976 influenza vaccination campaign have demonstrated either no risk or a slight elevated risk of GBS following seasonal influenza vaccination (approximately one additional case per million vaccinations). This chapter will discuss the scientific evidence to date regarding the association between influenza vaccines and GBS.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank Dr. Lawrence B. Schonberger for his valuable contributions to this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, CA, USA

    Nandini Bakshi M.D.

  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    James J. Sejvar M.D.

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  1. Nandini Bakshi M.D.
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  2. James J. Sejvar M.D.
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Correspondence to Nandini Bakshi M.D. .

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  1. , School of Medicine, Creighton University, North 30th Street,Suite 6814 601, Omaha, 68131, Nebraska, USA

    Archana Chatterjee

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Bakshi, N., Sejvar, J.J. (2013). Influenza Vaccines and Guillain Barré Syndrome. In: Chatterjee, A. (eds) Vaccinophobia and Vaccine Controversies of the 21st Century. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7438-8_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7438-8_17

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