Warning to Brits getting common jab over ‘small risk' of paralysing illness

Scottish Sun

07-07-2025

Health chiefs say there is no evidence the risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome applies to pregnant women vaccinated with the RSV jab
JAB ALERT Warning to Brits getting common jab over 'small risk' of paralysing illness
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OVER 20 people developed a potentially paralysing illness after getting the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
The UK's medicines watchdog says the jab comes with a "small risk" of Guillain-Barré syndrome, a nerve disorder that can cause muscle weakness, numbness and, in severe cases, paralysis.
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The benefits of RSV vaccination far outweigh the tiny risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome in older adults
But despite the warning, officials say the benefits of the potentially lifesaving vaccine still outweigh the risks.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued an alert to NHS staff after reports linked the condition to Pfizer's Abrysvo and GSK's Arexvy vaccines.
The jabs are offered to older adults and pregnant women to protect against RSV - a cold-like illness that can make some people seriously ill.
This includes pneumonia and bronchiolitis, an infection that causes swelling of the small airways in the lungs.
Since the jab launched on the NHS this September, 1.3 million people aged 75 to 80 have been vaccinated.
The Commission on Human Medicines still advises that "the benefits of vaccination against RSV outweigh the small risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome in older adults".
In its alert, published today, the MHRA said: "Healthcare professionals should advise all recipients of Abrysvo and Arexvy that they should be alert to signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome and, if they occur, to seek immediate medical attention as it requires urgent treatment in hospital."
It warned staff to be alert to the signs and symptoms of the syndrome.
There is currently no evidence of increased risk for pregnant women vaccinated with Abrysvo, the only RSV jab approved for use during pregnancy, health chiefs said in the alert.
The Pfizer vaccine Abrysvo is offered on the NHS to adults aged 75 to 79 and pregnant women.
The GSK vaccine Arexvy is not yet available on the NHS but may be accessible privately.
What is RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) or bronchiolitis?
Symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome can include tingling, numbness or pins and needles in feet and hands, muscle weakness and difficulty moving joints.
There may also be problems breathing and drooping face muscles or trouble swallowing or speaking.
Up to June 2, the MHRA received 21 Yellow Card reports of suspected Guillain-Barré in older adults after Abrysvo, out of more than 1.9 million doses given.
No cases have been linked to Arexvy in the UK so far, but this vaccine has been used very little.
The Yellow Card scheme is the UK's system for collecting reports of possible side effects from medicines and vaccines, helping regulators monitor safety.
In the US, studies suggest nine extra Guillain-Barré cases per million doses for Abrysvo and seven per million for Arexvy.