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Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Prevnar 13
What Is Prevnar 13 and Guillain-Barré Syndrome?
Prevnar 13 (PCV13) is a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and was approved for use in 2010. It is recommended for children less than 5, for adults 65 or older, and others with certain medical conditions.
Since 2017, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) following a flu shot has been on the Table of claims in the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). GBS is an acute paralysis caused by dysfunction in the peripheral nervous system (i.e., the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord). Subtypes of GBS include acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (AIDP), Fisher syndrome or Miller-Fisher syndrome (FS or MFS), acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN), and acute motor and sensory neuropathy (AMSAN).
Recent Findings of Entitlement for GBS Caused by Prevnar 13.
While GBS is usually associated with the flu vaccine, it may also give rise to a vaccine injury claim following some of the other covered vaccines. Recently the Program has found that an individual who suffered GBS is entitled to compensation following a shot for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine Prevnar 13. Although it is not an injury found on the Table, it has been determined that the Prevnar 13 vaccine is capable of causing GBS, entitling the person to recover the same as if it had been caused by a flu shot.