United States: In older people who are receiving the new vaccine launched called RSV vaccination, reports that the rare nervous system condition were more common than expected according to the a report released recently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This report is consistent with statements made by the organization of this year.
Surprising Findings
According to government officials, the advantages of the shots still surpass the risks.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the CDC say they are assessing the concerns but do not intend to alter their advice regarding the RSV shots, which is that those 60 years of age and older should consult with their physician before deciding whether to receive the vaccination.
Since early August, more than 10 million older adults have received single-dose vaccinations from Pfizer or GSK to guard against respiratory syncytial virus, which can be harmful to younger people and the elderly and frequently causes cold-like symptoms.
Assessing Risks and Benefits
Approximately two occurrences of Guillain-Barre syndrome are anticipated to occur for every million individuals who take the RSV vaccination within three weeks after the injection, according to health officials.
Continued Guidance
All but one of the 28 cases of the syndrome among vaccine recipients included in the recent CDC analysis showed symptoms within 21 days of vaccination. This corresponded to 1.5 cases per million for those who received the GSK RSV vaccine and 5 cases per million for those who received the Pfizer injection.
Analysis Results
CDC representatives provided comparable results on the RSV shots and Guillain Barre syndrome at a February public meeting.
According to the CDC, there are between 3,000 and 6,000 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome reported in the United States annually. The condition is more frequent in older adults and can result from a vaccine or viral infection. While most people heal totally, some suffer nerve damage that never goes away.
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