Neurological Disorders following COVID-19 Vaccination

Abstract

Nowadays, people all over the world have been receiving different types of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines. While their effectiveness has been well recognized, various post-vaccination disorders are not fully understood. In this review, we discuss neurological disorders related to vascular, immune, infectious, and functional factors following COVID-19 vaccination, and attempt to provide neuroscientists, psychiatrists, and vaccination staff with a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. These disorders may present as a recurrence of previous neurological disorders or new-onset diseases. Their incidence rate, host and vaccine characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis differ significantly. The pathogenesis of many of them remains unclear, and further studies are needed to provide more evidence. The incidence rate of severe neurological disorders is relatively low, most of which are reversible or treatable. Therefore, the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risk of COVID-19 infection, especially among fragile populations.

Lower Motor Neuron Facial Palsy Following COVID-19 Infection and COVID-19 AZD1222 Vaxzervria (AstraZeneca) Vaccine Administration: Two Case Reports

“…Another observed cause was immune-mediated damage to the facial nerve. 7 Bell’s palsy is a severe unusual side effect of messenger R.N.A. (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines.…”

“… 6 Although the precise mechanism of the neurological difficulties induced by COVID-19 vaccines is unknown, numerous theories have been proposed to classify these neurological disorders, including vascular, immunological, infectious, and functional causes. 7 …”

The immunobiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine responses: potential influences of cross-reactive memory responses and aging on efficacy and off-target effects

“…One group that focused on PASC in the context of the elderly showed that an approximated 30% of patients over the age of 65 developed it ( 190 ), while another study showed that Long COVID symptoms were more severe in elderly patients ( 191 ), supporting data gathered by the US Census Bureau, though it should be noted that the elderly do not have the highest reported incidence rate of post-COVID symptoms following infection ( 192 ). Within the context of vaccination alone, the development of Long COVID has not been extensively addressed, though neuropathic symptoms have been reported, albeit at a lesser occurrence rate than primary infection without vaccination ( 193 – 195 ). While evidence suggests that those vaccinated before infection have protection against Long COVID ( 196 ), symptom development after vaccination alone is a phenomenon that is not understood and warrants preclinical investigation, particularly in the context of the elderly.…”