Study links COVID-19 and some vaccines to increased risk of rare neurological condition
Ella Day | June 5, 2025 | News story | Medical Communications, Medical Education, Medical/ Scientific Writing, Research and Development | COVID-19, COVID-19 vaccine, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), Neurology, Virology, adenoviral vector vaccines, mRNA-based vaccines, medical study, neurological condition
An international study has found an increased risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) following SARS-CoV-2 infection and after vaccination with adenoviral vector COVID-19 vaccines, such as AstraZeneca and Janssen’s. The findings, published in Vaccine, draw on data from more than 230 million people across 20 global sites.
GBS is a rare but serious neurological disorder that can lead to muscle weakness and, in some cases, paralysis. The study found that people were about three times more likely to develop GBS within six weeks of COVID-19 infection than at other times. An increased risk was also observed after adenoviral vector vaccines, but not after mRNA-based vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) or inactivated vaccines (Coronavac/Sinovac).
The research was conducted by the global vaccine data network with contributions from the UK’s drug safety research unit (DSRU).
“This comprehensive global vaccine safety study used real-world data from multiple countries to investigate the safety of COVID-19 vaccination and the risk of GBS,” said Alison Yeomans, senior research fellow at the DSRU. “Although an increased risk was observed with adenoviral vector vaccines, this was not seen with mRNA-based vaccines. These findings highlight the need for ongoing safety monitoring and evidence-based guidance.”
The study reinforces the importance of continuous vaccine safety surveillance and supports more informed decision making for future vaccination campaigns.
Ella Day
5/6/25
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