Psychogenic illness following vaccination: exploratory study of mass vaccination against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) in 2009 in South Korea

Abstract

PurposeAdverse events during mass vaccination campaigns have had a profoundly negative impact on vaccine coverage rates. The objective of the study was to identify the characteristics of reported psychogenic illness cases following mass vaccination that needed further interventions of the national immunization program.Materials and MethodsWe collected documents that were submitted to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vaccine injury compensation, and analyzed cases of psychogenic illness following pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in 2009 which were confirmed by the Korean Advisory Committee on Vaccine Injury Compensation.ResultsDuring the 2009-2010 influenza season, 13 million Koreans were vaccinated against pandemic influenza. Of 28 reported psychogenic illness cases following immunization, 25 were vaccinated through school-located mass immunization. Significant numbers of them were female adolescents (68%) or had underlying vulnerable conditions or emotional life stressors (36%). They required lengthy hospitalization (median, 7 days) and high medical costs (median, US $1,582 per case).ConclusionHealth authorities and organizers of future mass vaccinations should be well aware of the possible occurrence of psychogenic illness, acknowledge their detailed characteristics, and take its economic burden into account to mitigate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases efficiently.

Considerations for causality assessment of neurological and neuropsychiatric complications of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: from cerebral venous sinus thrombosis to functional neurological disorder

“…For example, human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) vaccinations in Brazil have precipitated functional (non-epileptic) seizures or attacks (a subtype of functional neurological disorder (FND)), 22 which have also been reported following the H1N1 vaccination in Taiwan 23 and South Korea. 24 The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety and Immunisations (GACVS) working group of the WHO recognise such 'immunisation stress related responses' (ISRRs) as a disqualifier in their tool for assessing causality of an adverse event following immunisation, which include (but are not limited to) acute stress responses, vasovagal reactions and dissociative symptoms. 25 Many of these ISRRs can be viewed as FND triggered by vaccines.…”

“…There were cases of functional disorders following the H1N1 vaccination in Taiwan 23 and South Korea. 24 In both countries, these predominantly affected schoolchildren, and in some cases in Taiwan, symptoms of functional dizziness and weakness spread in clusters, all of which resolved without medical intervention. This phenomenon has been echoed in multiple other countries and in response to different vaccines.…”

Morgellons Disease: The Spread of a Mass Psychogenic Illness via the Internet and Its Implications in Hand Surgery

“…7 Recent examples include an outbreak of Tourette-like symptoms in an American high school and multiple cases of weakness and vague neurological symptoms during a mass influenza vaccination campaign in South Korea. 8,9 The Internet’s power to disseminate information—and misinformation—may contribute to the spread and consolidation of this type of conversion disorder as patients seek an explanation for their symptoms. 10…”

Defining Causality in Neurological & Neuropsychiatric COVID-19 Vaccine Complications: What Have We Learnt from Current and Previous Vaccination Campaigns?

“…It is also recognised that there have been acute neurological responses in previous vaccination campaigns, which although precipitated by the vaccination procedure are not directly related to the vaccine constituents. For example, human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) vaccinations in Brazil have precipitated functional (non-epileptic) seizures or attacks (a subtype of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND)) (23), which have also been reported following the H1N1 vaccination in Taiwan (24) and South Korea (25). The WHO Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety and Immunisations (GACVS) working group of the World Health Organisation (WHO) recognise such 'immunisation stress related responses' (ISRRs) as a disqualifier in their tool for assessing causality of an adverse event following immunization, which include (but are not limited to) acute stress responses, vasovagal reactions, and dissociative symptoms (26).…”

“…Mass functional illnesses occur most often within cohesive social groups such as schools or workplaces and can arise in many settings in response to stimuli which are perceived as noxious. There were cases of functional disorders following the H1N1 vaccination in Taiwan (24) and South Korea (25). In both countries, these predominantly affected schoolchildren, and in some cases in Taiwan, symptoms of functional dizziness and weakness spread in clusters, all of which resolved without medical intervention.…”