Latest news with #GlobalVaccineDataNetwork
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Global Study: COVID-19 And Adenoviral Vaccines Tied To GBS Risk, Not MRNA Vaccines
Press Release – Global Vaccine Data Network GBS is a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause progressive limb weakness and eventual paralysis, with an annual incidence of 1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people worldwide. It has been linked to various infections, including Campylobacter … Large-scale study in a population covering more than 230 million people sheds light on the relationship between Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccines or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Auckland, 29 May 2025 – A new multinational study analysing data from over 230 million people across 20 global sites highlights the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain COVID-19 vaccines, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This research reinforces the importance of continuous vaccine safety monitoring and highlights key differences in risk associated with different vaccine types. GBS is a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause progressive limb weakness and eventual paralysis, with an annual incidence of 1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people worldwide. It has been linked to various infections, including Campylobacter jejuni, Zika virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. The study used advanced epidemiological methods and healthcare data from 20 sites within GVDN: seven sites from the African COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance (ACVaSS) system: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria; Argentina; New South Wales and Victoria in Australia; British Columbia and Ontario in Canada; Denmark; Finland; Indonesia; Republic of Korea; South Africa; and three Vaccine monitoring Collaboration for Europe (VAC4EU) sites: Catalonia and Valencia in Spain, and the United Kingdom. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 were around three times more likely to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of infection compared to other times, suggesting that infection with this virus increases the risk of GBS. An increased risk was also observed following adenoviral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson), but not after mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) or inactivated vaccines (Coronavac/Sinovac). 'If you are concerned about the risk of rare but serious side effects of vaccines such as GBS, you should know that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to increase your risk, but infection with the virus does,' said Dr. Jeff Kwong, senior author for the study based at ICES and the University of Toronto in Canada. 'This study reinforces what we have known for some time—the potential health risks from COVID-19 disease are greater than the risks following COVID-19 vaccination, which plays an important role in protecting us from serious risks posed by infection.' 'Understanding the relative risks of vaccination and infection is critical. This study reinforces that while certain vaccines may carry small risks, SARS-CoV-2 infection itself presents a much greater threat to neurological health,' said Dr. Sharifa Nasreen, Assistant Professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, USA. 'Our findings emphasise that vaccine safety is not static—it is continuously studied and evaluated. The global research community remains committed to ensuring public confidence through ongoing safety monitoring and evidence-based guidance,' said Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, GVDN Co-Director and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. GVDN collaborates with leading research institutions, policymakers, and vaccine organisations across six continents to create a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to vaccine safety and effectiveness. This large-scale study underscores the importance of vaccination as a tool for public health, not only in preventing severe disease but in reducing rare complications like GBS. Dr. Steve Black, GVDN Co-Director, stated, 'GVDN has long been committed to rigorous and transparent vaccine safety research. The size and diversity of this study population, attained through multinational collaboration, is a testament to this. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and real-world data to guide public health decisions.' About Global Vaccine Data Network™ (GVDN®) Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) brings together researchers across six continents to deliver independent, real-world data on vaccine safety and effectiveness, supporting evidence-based public health decisions. Established in 2019, GVDN collaborates with renowned research institutions, policy-makers, and vaccine-related organisations to establish a harmonised and evidence-based approach to evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness using data sourced from millions of individuals across six continents. GVDN is supported by the Global Coordinating Centre based at Auckland UniServices Limited, a not-for-profit, stand-alone company that provides support to researchers and is wholly owned by the Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine safety and effectiveness profiles, GVDN strives to create a safer immunisation landscape that empowers decision-making for the global community. For further information, visit Disclaimer This news release summarises the key findings of the GVDN study to identify the association between the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19 infection or vaccination. To view the full publication in Vaccine, visit This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Global Study: COVID-19 And Adenoviral Vaccines Tied To GBS Risk, Not MRNA Vaccines
Press Release – Global Vaccine Data Network GBS is a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause progressive limb weakness and eventual paralysis, with an annual incidence of 1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people worldwide. It has been linked to various infections, including Campylobacter … Large-scale study in a population covering more than 230 million people sheds light on the relationship between Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccines or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Auckland, 29 May 2025 – A new multinational study analysing data from over 230 million people across 20 global sites highlights the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain COVID-19 vaccines, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This research reinforces the importance of continuous vaccine safety monitoring and highlights key differences in risk associated with different vaccine types. GBS is a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause progressive limb weakness and eventual paralysis, with an annual incidence of 1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people worldwide. It has been linked to various infections, including Campylobacter jejuni, Zika virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. The study used advanced epidemiological methods and healthcare data from 20 sites within GVDN: seven sites from the African COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance (ACVaSS) system: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria; Argentina; New South Wales and Victoria in Australia; British Columbia and Ontario in Canada; Denmark; Finland; Indonesia; Republic of Korea; South Africa; and three Vaccine monitoring Collaboration for Europe (VAC4EU) sites: Catalonia and Valencia in Spain, and the United Kingdom. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 were around three times more likely to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of infection compared to other times, suggesting that infection with this virus increases the risk of GBS. An increased risk was also observed following adenoviral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson), but not after mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) or inactivated vaccines (Coronavac/Sinovac). 'If you are concerned about the risk of rare but serious side effects of vaccines such as GBS, you should know that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to increase your risk, but infection with the virus does,' said Dr. Jeff Kwong, senior author for the study based at ICES and the University of Toronto in Canada. 'This study reinforces what we have known for some time—the potential health risks from COVID-19 disease are greater than the risks following COVID-19 vaccination, which plays an important role in protecting us from serious risks posed by infection.' 'Understanding the relative risks of vaccination and infection is critical. This study reinforces that while certain vaccines may carry small risks, SARS-CoV-2 infection itself presents a much greater threat to neurological health,' said Dr. Sharifa Nasreen, Assistant Professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, USA. 'Our findings emphasise that vaccine safety is not static—it is continuously studied and evaluated. The global research community remains committed to ensuring public confidence through ongoing safety monitoring and evidence-based guidance,' said Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, GVDN Co-Director and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. GVDN collaborates with leading research institutions, policymakers, and vaccine organisations across six continents to create a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to vaccine safety and effectiveness. This large-scale study underscores the importance of vaccination as a tool for public health, not only in preventing severe disease but in reducing rare complications like GBS. Dr. Steve Black, GVDN Co-Director, stated, 'GVDN has long been committed to rigorous and transparent vaccine safety research. The size and diversity of this study population, attained through multinational collaboration, is a testament to this. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and real-world data to guide public health decisions.' About Global Vaccine Data Network™ (GVDN®) Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) brings together researchers across six continents to deliver independent, real-world data on vaccine safety and effectiveness, supporting evidence-based public health decisions. Established in 2019, GVDN collaborates with renowned research institutions, policy-makers, and vaccine-related organisations to establish a harmonised and evidence-based approach to evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness using data sourced from millions of individuals across six continents. GVDN is supported by the Global Coordinating Centre based at Auckland UniServices Limited, a not-for-profit, stand-alone company that provides support to researchers and is wholly owned by the Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine safety and effectiveness profiles, GVDN strives to create a safer immunisation landscape that empowers decision-making for the global community. For further information, visit Disclaimer This news release summarises the key findings of the GVDN study to identify the association between the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19 infection or vaccination. To view the full publication in Vaccine, visit This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Global Study: COVID-19 And Adenoviral Vaccines Tied To GBS Risk, Not MRNA Vaccines
Press Release – Global Vaccine Data Network Large-scale study in a population covering more than 230 million people sheds light on the relationship between Guillain-Barré syndrome after COVID-19 vaccines or SARS-CoV-2 infection. Auckland, 29 May 2025 – A new multinational study analysing data from over 230 million people across 20 global sites highlights the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection, certain COVID-19 vaccines, and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This research reinforces the importance of continuous vaccine safety monitoring and highlights key differences in risk associated with different vaccine types. GBS is a rare but serious neurological condition that can cause progressive limb weakness and eventual paralysis, with an annual incidence of 1 to 4 cases per 100,000 people worldwide. It has been linked to various infections, including Campylobacter jejuni, Zika virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. The study used advanced epidemiological methods and healthcare data from 20 sites within GVDN: seven sites from the African COVID-19 Vaccine Safety Surveillance (ACVaSS) system: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, and Nigeria; Argentina; New South Wales and Victoria in Australia; British Columbia and Ontario in Canada; Denmark; Finland; Indonesia; Republic of Korea; South Africa; and three Vaccine monitoring Collaboration for Europe (VAC4EU) sites: Catalonia and Valencia in Spain, and the United Kingdom. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 were around three times more likely to develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within six weeks of infection compared to other times, suggesting that infection with this virus increases the risk of GBS. An increased risk was also observed following adenoviral vector vaccines (AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson), but not after mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) or inactivated vaccines (Coronavac/Sinovac). 'If you are concerned about the risk of rare but serious side effects of vaccines such as GBS, you should know that receiving an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine does not appear to increase your risk, but infection with the virus does,' said Dr. Jeff Kwong, senior author for the study based at ICES and the University of Toronto in Canada. 'This study reinforces what we have known for some time—the potential health risks from COVID-19 disease are greater than the risks following COVID-19 vaccination, which plays an important role in protecting us from serious risks posed by infection.' 'Understanding the relative risks of vaccination and infection is critical. This study reinforces that while certain vaccines may carry small risks, SARS-CoV-2 infection itself presents a much greater threat to neurological health,' said Dr. Sharifa Nasreen, Assistant Professor at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, USA. 'Our findings emphasise that vaccine safety is not static—it is continuously studied and evaluated. The global research community remains committed to ensuring public confidence through ongoing safety monitoring and evidence-based guidance,' said Dr. Helen Petousis-Harris, GVDN Co-Director and Associate Professor at the University of Auckland. GVDN collaborates with leading research institutions, policymakers, and vaccine organisations across six continents to create a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to vaccine safety and effectiveness. This large-scale study underscores the importance of vaccination as a tool for public health, not only in preventing severe disease but in reducing rare complications like GBS. Dr. Steve Black, GVDN Co-Director, stated, 'GVDN has long been committed to rigorous and transparent vaccine safety research. The size and diversity of this study population, attained through multinational collaboration, is a testament to this. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and real-world data to guide public health decisions.' About Global Vaccine Data Network™ (GVDN®) Global Vaccine Data Network (GVDN) brings together researchers across six continents to deliver independent, real-world data on vaccine safety and effectiveness, supporting evidence-based public health decisions. Established in 2019, GVDN collaborates with renowned research institutions, policy-makers, and vaccine-related organisations to establish a harmonised and evidence-based approach to evaluating vaccine safety and effectiveness using data sourced from millions of individuals across six continents. GVDN is supported by the Global Coordinating Centre based at Auckland UniServices Limited, a not-for-profit, stand-alone company that provides support to researchers and is wholly owned by the Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Aiming to gain a comprehensive understanding of vaccine safety and effectiveness profiles, GVDN strives to create a safer immunisation landscape that empowers decision-making for the global community. For further information, visit Disclaimer This news release summarises the key findings of the GVDN study to identify the association between the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and COVID-19 infection or vaccination. To view the full publication in Vaccine, visit This project was supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
RNZ News
27-04-2025
- Health
- RNZ News
Auckland University Covid vaccine safety study could lose funding in final year after DOGE review
Photo: AFP A vaccinologist behind a ground-breaking study into the safety of Covid-19 vaccines is worried US funding cuts could undermine vaccine confidence. The Global Vaccine Data Network, run from Auckland University, has drawn on data from more than 300 million people to research vaccine safety and efficacy since 2019. At the end of March, researchers learned that a five year project investigating Covid vaccine safety had been caught up in the Trump administration's funding cuts. Co-director and associate professor Helen Petousis-Harris said the project was in its final year, and it was heartbreaking to see its delivery now under threat. "We're four years into it, so we've achieved a huge amount of the work, which is now really bearing the fruits." She said the work was important for vaccine confidence and future pandemic preparedness, with extensive data sets enabling researchers to answer questions about vaccine safety and rare adverse events robustly. "To do that you need diverse populations, you need to have populations using those vaccines, and to detect these rare things you need huge numbers of people." "It was really ground-breaking, the output ... these are by far the biggest studies of its kind to be undertaken." Petousis-Harris said the project was "collateral damage" at a time when many were undervaluing scientific research. "It's gutting, but it's not really surprising," she said. "We are entering into a time now where scientific institutions are being eroded, it destablises and undermines science. "So the more you strip it away, and the people that do it, the more you feed the narrative that it (science) has no benefit." She said the team needed to find about US$2 million to finish its work into Covid vaccine safety, after the US health department's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) terminated its funding. The findings from the Global Vaccine Data Network - "a multinational, investigator-led research network that conducts globally coordinated epidemiological studies on the safety and effectiveness of vaccines" - include the largest-ever study into the safety of Covid-19 vaccines. A study supported by the CDC as part of its financial assistance totalling US$10,108,491. The network's website said the Covid vaccine safety study was terminated 13 months early following a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) review. Greg Murison, chief executive at UniServices - which hosts the project in Auckland - said the global Covid vaccine safety project had received funding from the CDC since 2021. He said a recent change in policy in the United States had resulted in "major cuts to health funding and research in the United States and globally". "Recently the CDC informed UniServices that that funding for the GVDN would cease with immediate effect." He said research that did not rely on CDC funding would continue, but confirmed work was underway to consolidate and secure the data that had been collected on vaccine safety. The Ministry of Health said it was aware of the overseas funding decisions affecting the network, but said it had not received a request for funding.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Global study on Covid vaccine safety falls victim to Trump cuts
The largest ever global study into the safety of Covid-19 vaccines has been terminated just 13 months shy of completion, after becoming caught up in the Trump administration's sweeping funding cuts. The Global Vaccine Data Network, which was established in 2019 by the New Zealand-based vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris and the US-based vaccinologist Steven Black, has already produced some of the world's most comprehensive studies on vaccine efficacy and safety, based on data from more than 300 million people. The University of Auckland hosts the network, which collaborates with institutions and experts across the globe. Related: Two very rare Covid vaccine side-effects detected in global study of 99 million The groundbreaking five-year project to evaluate the safety of Covid vaccines across hundreds of millions of people received more than NZ$10m from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2021, but after a recent funding review by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), it can no longer finish the project, Petousis-Harris said. The network looks at data from millions of people to evaluate the effectiveness of vaccines, analyse risk and benefits and respond to issues such as vaccine hesitancy. To do this requires 'enormous study power, enormous populations and diversity', said Petousis-Harris, who is an associate professor at the University of Auckland. But funding for the global Covid vaccine safety project was 'suddenly cut … without warning, without planning', she told the Guardian. The second Trump administration has initiated sweeping cuts to US scientific institutions and government departments, as well as research and aid programmes, which has affected projects across the globe. On 1 April, roughly 10,000 people lost their jobs at agencies including the CDC, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health in a continuation of one of the largest mass firings in American history. The cuts to CDC has not only affected the data network's 'bottom dollar' but will further delegitimise science, scientific institutions and scientists, Petousis-Harris said. 'The impact of the Trump administration to withdraw such vast amounts of funding globally is almost hard to articulate.' The Covid vaccine project needs roughly US$2m to finish its work, she said. The network hopes another funder – be it governmental or philanthropic – will fill the financial gap. Meanwhile, the loss of such research risks creating the conditions for disinformation about vaccines to flourish. 'We saw it go on steroids over the pandemic period, and now, by disestablishing so many institutions that do have some authority in the space, you've just opened it wide up for different narratives,' Petousis-Harris said. The University of Auckland's UniServices – the commercial arm of the University that supports research programmes such as the Global Vaccine Data Network – confirmed the project's funding had been cut. 'Recently the CDC informed UniServices that that funding for the [project] would cease with immediate effect,' said Dr Greg Murison, UniServices' executive director. 'We are now in the process of consolidating and securing the data and material created on vaccine safety and research the [project] has collated since 2019.' The network had published 'several significant scientific findings since its inception' and some of its other projects will continue due to being funded separately. The New Zealand health ministry said it was aware of the decision to end the study's funding. 'At this stage, the Ministry has not received a request for funding,' it said.
