Is Your Guillain-Barré Syndrome Related to a Recent Flu Shot?

If you or a loved one has recently received news that they have been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), then you may be wondering, "why me?" or "what caused this?" Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system is triggered in a way in which it attacks part of the peripheral nervous system (the network of nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord). To learn more about what GBS is, click [here][1]. **What Causes GBS?** Guillain-Barré syndrome is the most common and most severe acute paralytic neuropathy, with about 100,000 people developing the disorder every year worldwide. There are many known causes of GBS that are supported by the relevant medical literature and supported by clinical practice. There are many viral and bacterial agents that can cause GBS, however, many patients and treating physicians fail to consider whether a recent vaccination could have triggered the onset of GBS. More specifically, cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome have been linked to recent influenza vaccines. The relevant medical literature that supports the causal link between GBS and the flu shot is based on the 1976 vaccination campaign for H1N1 influenza A virus, where roughly one in 100 000 people who had been vaccinated developed Guillain-Barré syndrome. (cite: HJ Willison. Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The Lancet. 2016. 388:10045. Pp. 717-727). Other vaccines, including tetanus, TDaP, MMR, and Hepatitis A vaccines, have also been linked to the development of GBS. The relevant medical literature on the issue is consistent in establishing a causal link between the influenza vaccine and the onset of GBS. The literature states that if an individual had an influenza vaccine within the six (6) weeks prior to the onset of GBS, then it is more likely than not that the cause of the GBS was that influenza vaccine. (cite: J Kwong. Risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after seasonal influenza vaccination and influenza health-care encounters: a self-controlled study. The Lancet. 2013 Sep;13(9):769-76). When determining the onset of GBS, it is important to note that it is not when the diagnosis occurs or is made by a medical professional, but rather when the symptoms of GBS began. The onset of GBS is most typically characterized by a sudden and rapid onset of numbness, weakness and tingling in the individual's feet and/or legs. The symptoms can also present as a burning, "crawling ants," or "pins and needles" sensation in the legs. Individuals will also often have a spontaneous fall due to the severe lower extremity weakness. Symptoms peak within 4 weeks after onset, followed by a recovery period that can last months or years, as the immune response decays and the peripheral nerve undergoes an endogenous repair process. (cite: HJ Willison. Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The Lancet. 2016. 388:10045. Pp. 717-727). **The Department of Health and Human Services Concedes that the Influenza Vaccine Causes GBS** The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) was established to provide an efficient legal recourse for those who have suffered adverse effects from vaccines. The VICP is a “no-fault” compensation program, which means that individuals only need to prove that the vaccine caused the alleged injury. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the governmental entity that defends all vaccine-related claims in the VICP. This department is responsible for reviewing cases and issuing payment of compensable claims. Based on years of successful litigation in proving that the influenza vaccine can and does cause GBS, the Department of Health and Human Services has conceded that the flu shot can and does cause GBS if the symptoms of GBS began within 42 days of the person receiving a flu shot. If you or a loved one fits within this time frame, then you are automatically eligible for compensation and it is just a matter of "how much." If you or a loved one received a flu shot in the weeks before the onset of GBS, please contact our vaccine attorney who can discuss how you would be eligible for vaccine compensation settlements for pain and suffering, medical expenses, future medical care and lost wages. [Click here to see if you are eligible for compensation][2] [1]: https://www.vaccineawarenesscenter.com/news/is-your-leg-weakness-numbness-and-tingling-a-sign-of-guillain-barre-syndrome-gbs/ [2]: https://www.vaccineawarenesscenter.com/contact/