Do vaccines cause Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
It is not fully understood why some people develop GBS, but it is believed that the nerve cells are damaged by a person’s own immune system. Many types of infections, and in very rare cases vaccines, may activate the immune system to cause damage to the nerve cells.
For more information about Guillain-Barré Syndrome see:
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Information Page
- Fact Sheet: Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Last Updated: 09/14/2009
Related Questions:
- What is Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
- What causes Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
- Will there be a possibility of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) cases following the 2009 H1N1 vaccine?
- How common is Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), and how common is it after people are vaccinated for seasonal flu?
- How will the Federal government determine whether people who receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine have an increased risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)?
