H1N1 Flu Vaccine Linked to Life-Threatening Muscle Disorder, Other Side Effects

Dear Editor,
I was really interested to read your article on GBS and Swine Flu. I work as media officer for a charity called the GBS Support Group. The GBSSG has a medical advisory board, comprised of neurologists, who have issued a statement on the issue. They say that there’s more chance of getting GBS from Swine Flu or Influenza itself than from the vaccine. Off the record, at this stage, they think any people getting GBS after the Swine Flu jab is co-incidence, but of course it’s an ongoing matter for research. I’ve pasted my press release below and would be delighted if you’d consider using any of the info.
Kind regards,
Sarah Harvey

FEARS over the safety of the Swine Flu vaccine have been re-ignited after a teenager and a young woman were reported to have been paralysed by a rare condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) after they had the H1N1 jab.

But medical professionals have announced today that the risk of getting GBS directly after having the Swine Flu vaccine is extremely low – in fact people are more likely to get GBS from catching the “flu bug” itself.

A small UK charity called the GBS Support Group (GBSSG), which provides information and support to those affected by GBS, has been bombarded with requests for advice from people concerned about whether or not the Swine Flu vaccine triggers GBS.

GBS is an acute disease of the nervous system. The condition causes the nerves in the arms and legs to become inflamed and stop working; causing sudden weakness leading to paralysis and very occasionally, death.

The GBSSG’s Medical Advisory Board, comprised of leading professionals in the field of Neurology, has just convened to discuss the issue in order to offer members of the public the best possible advice.

The Medical Advisory Board members said in a joint statement: “The occurrence of GBS after subsequently-used influenza and other vaccines has been extremely rare. It is very uncertain whether influenza vaccines ever cause GBS and highly probable that an influenza-like illness does. The decision whether to receive a vaccine is an individual one which has to be decided on a case-by-case basis.”

The members of the Medical Advisory Board acknowledged there is a “theoretical” risk of getting GBS following a vaccination; the two publicised recent cases of GBS and the fact that GBS has been previously linked to vaccinations – but they agreed unanimously that the risk of GBS being triggered by the Swine Flu jab is very low.

The Medical Advisory Board members said: “Guillain-Barré Syndrome is thought to be an autoimmune disease. Vaccines stimulate the immune system. Theoretically stimulating the immune system might exacerbate or lead to a reappearance of an autoimmune disease.

“There are anecdotal reports of GBS occurring soon after immunisations. There was an increase in incidence of GBS after the Swine Flu virus vaccine programme in the United States in 1976.”

A Swine Flu vaccine was linked to GBS in the United States in 1976 when the authorities rolled out a vaccination programme in response to an outbreak of Swine Flu. Reports came in of people having the jab then going on to contract GBS. There was found to be an above-average increase in the overall number of people in the US getting GBS compared to before the vaccination programme began.

As international Swine Flu vaccination programmes were rolled out this year, there were concerns there would be another increase in the number of cases of GBS. It has recently been revealed that a 14-year old boy in the United States was diagnosed with GBS less than 24 hours after having the H1N1 vaccine. The boy’s father believes the vaccination triggered his son’s condition. The following day it was made public that a female health worker in France has been diagnosed with GBS after having the Swine Flu jab.

Anyone of any age can get GBS. The exact causes is still a matter for research but the majority of patients – about sixty percent- usually suffer from a throat or intestinal infection, Influenza or stress symptoms in the previous two weeks before showing symptoms of GBS. Around 1,500 people a year in the UK get GBS.

ENDS

For further information, case studies or interviews contact GBSSG Media Officer Sarah Harvey on +44(0)7790 778284, email sarahharvey.news@gmail.com.

Editorial Notes on GBS

What is GBS?

GBS is short for ‘Guillain-Barré syndrome’ (pronounced Ghee-lan Bar-ray). It is an acute disease of the peripheral nervous system in which the nerves in the arms and legs become inflamed and stop working. This causes sudden weakness leading to limb paralysis, and a loss of sensation, sometimes with pain.

Who can get GBS?

Anyone: young or old, male or female. The illnesses are neither hereditary nor contagious. GBS affects about 1500 people every year in the United Kingdom.

What causes GBS?

This is a matter of much research. About sixty percent of patients suffer from a throat or intestinal infection, influenza or stress symptoms in the previous two weeks. These infections trigger an incorrect response in the immune system which attacks the nerves.

What are the symptoms?

First symptoms are usually tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes with progressive weakness in the arms and legs during the next few days. In the mildest of cases, the weakness may arrest and cause only moderate difficulty in walking, requiring sticks, crutches or a walking frame.

In some cases the weakness progresses and leads to complete paralysis of the legs, the arms may also be affected. In a quarter of cases the paralysis progresses up the chest and the patient is unable to breathe on his or her own and needs to rely on a mechanical breathing machine (ventilator). The throat and face may be affected making swallowing impossible and so the patient needs to be fed by tube up the nose or directly into the stomach.

What is the treatment for GBS?

GBS improves spontaneously. However, certain factors can assist recovery:

good nursing and medical/intensive care;
physiotherapy and hydrotherapy, therapies that relieve discomfort and prevent stiffness;
immunoglobulin — the infusion of immunoglobulin proves successful with similar results to plasmapheresis;
plasmapheresis — the exchange of blood plasma generally reduces the duration of the disease in severe cases if carried out in the first few days; and
counselling to reassure the patient and encourage the patient towards recovery.
Do all patients recover?

Most patients (80%) make a total recovery but many spend three months or more in hospital and take a year to recover. Some patients do not recover completely and have residual weakness, numbness and occasional pain. A small number are unable to resume their normal occupation. Modern intensive care makes death from GBS a rare occurrence but is does occur in around 5% of cases, more commonly in the elderly.

I knew the H1N1CBSCNNTMT2 was strange…We have never even heard of the swine flu……Very strange…that in this day and age, the medicines used to help us, really is destroying us….hmmmmmmmmmm

I have a friend who has a friend in Ohio that has become completley paralized —they say he will never get better!!

NO VACCINES FOR ME!!

I am a 48 year old female that was diagnoised wit R.A. Should I get the vaccine? am I at greater risk because my immune system is low already?

WHOA, Nellie!

well i did take the h1n1 vaccine because my doctors office said I should and I reminded them of my chronic illness – severe very severe arthritis and they know my immune system, my blood problems so now am I to be told that I could ahve some severe – possible fatal after trying to aks and educate and make sure no dangetr. I don’t think so as I knjow my doctor woudl say don’t take if there was a danger so what is all this

i am very sick with lung diease and the diagram probles and so many more medical problems ,i take 23 pills a day. my husband is very sick he had triple bypass in 5/4/2009. he takes so much medicanes .i cant get the flu shot or swine flu shot .my had surgery had hip surgey ,he got the flu shot ,but there is no place to get it now the swine flu thank you michelle krupa

check this out

I dont know if I should get the Swine flu shot I am 69 yr
old and I feel fine and with all the side effects I am heiring about makes me worry what do I do

I Run rescue, in a small town and we were told to get the shot. should I be worried???????

have a grandson which has a lot of alergies /during the winter months he always has upper congestions his school is overing the h1n1 shot should he take it or should he wait/ i am 57yrs old and have fibermyolgia which i see the shot causes muscle weakness, paralysis i shouldnt take the shot sould i

Hello,

I want to tell you that I had Gullian Barre Syndrom back in 1986 and it was awful. What my family and myself went through. I reached out to other patients that had it before me and I came across someone who had a swine flu shot or swine flu and she came down with gullian barre. It took a long time to figure out what was wrong with her, same as me back in 86 , no one could figure out what was wrong with me. I had a mild case where it didn’t hit my respitory system but it took all the mylin off the nerves of my arms , legs, face and feet. It was like every part of my body was asleep just like when your foot goes to sleep and it is numb, pins and needles and then that insane ticklish feeling that is unbearable. I still get some wierd sensations left over from it but I would tell people not to get this shot if it can cause you at the slightest chance of getting gullian barre

With all these Pharmaceutica companies, we should have an effective Vaccine for Swine flue virus and we should know what to do to overcome any complications that an infected patient may experience. what should one do, if they get Swine flue? how is it spread?

I have carpel tunnel should i not get shot ? I also have cancer and heart problems stents …. With the GBS is it dangeroues

I just received my H1N1 shot this morning. It did make me and my wife a little woozy after getting it but we are feeling fine so far. Will update if any changes occur.

Check this U Tube video..

Girl Gets “Flu” Shot & Now Can Only Walk Backwards!

I THINK WE SHOULD JUST TRUST GOD AND GOOD OLE HORSE SENCE.
IF I GET SICK IT WAS JUST MEANT TO BE.MAYBE JUST STAY IN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE , KEEP YOUR HANDS CLEAN. CLEAN YOUR HOUSE WITH BLEACH,SUCH AS THE DOOR KNOBS ,COUNTER TOP,BATH TUBS,SOME FLOORS ETC.I THINK THIS SHOT IS JUST A TRY AND SEE
LIKE A SHOT IN THE DARK.A HIT AND MISS THING…
THE MORE SCARE YOU GET THE MOST LIKELY YOUR GONNA GET SICK.
EAT RIGHT, EXERCISE DAILY,DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, GET AS MUCH VITIAMS C AS POSSIBLE.MAYBE A FLINTSTONE VITIAMS DAILY
FOR GOOD HEALTH.PRAY ALOT…
THANKS
TERRY COOK

Thank you for the info,my doctor will give me H1N1 shot next month,I got an acute bronchitis for the fast 3 weeks before the news comes out that they need to have had one,even my comp.I work for they gives to every one a shot.
the best is to take vitamin c and eat healthy food.

Love and care,
Fe Boley

i received the h1n1 shot 5 days ago-i have been very sick with flu symptoms for the last 4 days-i thought that the shot would not give you the flu?

wow what a interesting post , its really helpful for us
and i saw this post on yahoo ill pop back to your site later today

I work for a hospital. We were told that we had to get the H1N1 by Dec. 31, 2009 or we would be fired. I got it on Dec. 28th. I was and still am against the shot but I had to take it cause I needed my job. I am still nervous about it. I feel ok just little tired but could be from holidays. My arm was sore and little hot in the spot given. I was also told by hospital infection control nurse that next yr they were going to incorporate the swine flu vaccination in with the regular flu shot so you would be getting it and would not even know it. This is very scary to get something injected in your body and who really knows what comes in the vials.??? All we can do is use our “heads” and pray the good Lord protects us. I really thought it was illegal to tell an employee you will inject something in your body or you will be fired.??????? But didn’t have the time or money to hire a lawyer to really chk this out. And if I did I am sure they would find a way to fire me anyway. You know how that goes.

add 1 more family member in columbia sc at richland memorial 2nd month