Vaccine-Associated Neurological Adverse Events: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Vaccination is an effective strategy to reduce the burden of preventable illness. However, many clinical reports revealed that various vaccinations may associate with neurological disorders, mainly including autoimmune disease, febrile seizure, and vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). Although more and more reports revealed that part of the above post-vaccine neurological disorders is not directly related to vaccination, it may be merely a coincidence. However, these reports may increase the hesitancy on vaccination for the public population and influence the coverage of vaccination. In this report, we described a child with acute flaccid paralysis possibly caused by a poliovirus vaccine. To provide feasible ways to realize or reduce the risk of neurological adverse events caused by vaccines, we further provide a mini-review of the literature of vaccination associated with neurological adverse events. This revealed that oral poliomyelitis vaccine use exclusively and type 2 serotype poliomyelitis vaccine virus were the risk factors for VAPP. The combination vaccine was associated with an increased risk of ADEM and FS following immunization when compared with the administration of vaccines separately. Even though cases have been reported that vaccination may be a trigger of anti-NMDARe and GBS, there is no direct evidence to prove that vaccination increased the risk of GBS and anti-NMDARe.

The potential neurological effect of the COVID‐19 vaccines: A review

“…A recent systematic review about the association between different inactivated vaccines (HPV, influenza, tetanus, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), polio, or diphtheria) and central demyelinating disorders, however, found no relationship between these vaccines and MS. 33 Similarly, another review of e vaccine-associated neurological adverse events found no direct evidence of increased risk of GBS and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis after vaccination. 34 Adjuvants are used in such vaccines. They raise concerns about the potential adverse effect they could have, particularly at the injection site and the mediators' responses and inflammatory influx.…”

Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid‐19) vaccination recommendations in special populations and patients with existing comorbidities

“…66 , 67 The adjuvants used in vaccines, including anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2, might be responsible for potential neurologic adverse effects. 68 Another potential neurological adverse event that may result from vaccination is the immunisation stress‐related response (ISRR), which manifests itself as psychogenic non‐epileptic seizures (PNES). 69 Transverse myelitis, 70 , 71 , 72 GBS, 73 , 74 and Bell's palsy 75 are other potential neurological consequences of the Covid‐19 vaccination reported so far.…”

Vaccines

“…Tian et al describe a case report where a child presented with acute flaccid paralysis possibly associated with poliovirus vaccination. Vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP) and other neurological disorders have been hypothesized to be linked to vaccination; however, no direct evidence suggests that polio vaccination increases the risk of GBS and anti-NMDARe ( Tian et al, 2019 ) [A].…”