RSV Vaccination Can Cause Guillain-Barré Syndrome

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that confirmed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) was identified as a potential safety concern following respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination.

On May 30, 2024, the CDC wrote that 'Findings are consistent with those from trials; reports of GBS (5.0 and 1.5 reports per million doses of Abrysvo and Arexvy vaccine administered, respectively) were more common than expected background rates.

Two deaths among RSV vaccine recipients who had been diagnosed with GBS were reported.

The CDC, the U.S. FDA, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are conducting population-based surveillance assessments of RSV vaccine safety and risks for GBS. Findings from these studies will help guide the development of Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations.

About 10 million older adults have been vaccinated against RSV since August 2023.

As of June 3, 2024, three approved RSV vaccines for adults and one monoclonal antibody for infants are available in the U.S.