Thankfully, I'm Out of the Window

It turns out that there is a (very) small chance of developing the neurological condition Guillain-Barré syndrome from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, particularly in men of a certain age. (My age)

Luckily for me, I got my vaccine 96 days ago, and the risk is only 42 days post vaccination, so I'm clear:

The Food and Drug Administration warned on Monday that Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine can lead to an increased risk of a rare neurological condition known as Guillain-Barré syndrome, another setback for a vaccine that has largely been sidelined in the United States.

Although regulators have found that the chances of developing the condition are low, they appear to be three to five times higher among recipients of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine than among the general population in the United States, according to people familiar with the decision. The warning was attached to fact sheets about the vaccine for providers and patients.

Federal officials have identified 100 suspected cases of Guillain-Barré among recipients of Johnson & Johnson’s one-dose shot through a federal monitoring system that relies on patients and health care providers to report adverse effects of vaccines. Ninety-five percent of those cases were considered serious and required hospitalization, the Food and Drug Administration said. The reports are preliminary.

………

Guillain-Barré syndrome occurs when the immune system damages nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and occasional paralysis, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Several thousand people — about 10 out of every million — develop the condition every year in the United States. Most recover from even severe symptoms. It has also been reported in people with Covid-19.

We got the J&J vaccine because it was the only vaccine available in the US which we knew did not have corn (maize) products, and Nat and Sharon^* are both highly allergic to corn and corn derivatives, and Charlie is sensitive, so we had no other options.

Still, between production problems, potential blood clots, and this, it does seem that this vaccine a bit problematic.

^*Love of my life, light of the cosmos, she who must be obeyed, my wife.