Neurologic manifestations after COVID-19 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccination rarely causes neurologic symptoms. Multiple cases of neurologic symptoms after COVID-19 vaccination have been reported despite ten World Health Organization (WHO)-approved vaccines and over 48% of the world's population being vaccinated. Between January 1, 2021, and June 14, 2021, researchers collected Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) data to identify neurologic symptoms. Thirty-six neurologic diagnoses were reported 42 days after vaccination. Postvaccination neurologic symptoms were compared by vaccine type, age-matched U.S. incidence rates, and COVID-19 rates.

314,610 persons (0.1%) reported an adverse event and 105,214 (0.03%) experienced neurologic symptoms 1 day after vaccination. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT)  occurred in less than 1 in 1,000,000 doses. Janssen vaccine caused more neurologic symptoms than Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. GBS, CVT, and seizure observed-to-expected ratios after Janssen immunisation were ≥1.5 times background rates. Neurologic consequences following SARS-CoV-2 infection were 617-fold higher than after COVID-19 vaccination.

GBS, CVT, and seizures increased after the Janssen vaccination. SARS-CoV-2 causes more neurologic symptoms than COVID-19. Individuals and society benefit more from COVID-19 than its risks.