Guillain-Barre syndrome 'more common than expected' with RSV vaccine in older people, CDC reiterates

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Reports of a rare nervous system disorder were “more common than expected” in older U.S. adults who got the new RSV vaccines, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released Thursday that's similar to what the organization said earlier this year. More than 10 million older adults have gotten either Pfizer or GSK single-dose shots since early August to protect against respiratory syncytial virus, which is a common cause of cold-like symptoms and can be dangerous for infants and older people. Health officials have estimated about two cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome in every 1 million people who receive the RSV vaccine within three weeks of getting the shot. An estimated 3,000 to 6,000 people develop Guillain-Barre syndrome in the U.S. each year — either after being infected by a virus or linked to a vaccination — and it’s more common in older people, according to the CDC.