The last swine flu vaccine in 1976 caused Guillain-Barre syndrome. Won’t that happen with this vaccine?
A. The link between Guillain-Barre syndrome and the 1976 swine flu vaccine is subject to much debate with many public health officials skeptical of a true cause and effect between the virus and the condition. Guillain-Barre syndrome is a neurologic disorder than can occur spontaneously for no apparent reason. It usually resolves within a few weeks with no long term sequelae in the vast majority of those affected. It has been linked to viruses, surgery and immunizations. Overall the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome is no higher with this H1N1 vaccine than with seasonal flu vaccine. Something to consider: the overall risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome from a flu vaccine is about 1 in one million. The overall risk of dying from H1N1 is estimated at 1 in 8,300. BOTTOM LINE: The risk of an adverse outcome from contracting the H1N1 virus is much more worrisome than the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
