Guillain-Barre syndrome following vaccination in the National Influenza Immunization Program, United States, 1976--1977.
Because of an increase in the number of reports of Guillian-Barre syndrome (GBS) following A/New Jersey influenza vaccination, the National Influenza Immunization Program was suspended December 16, 1976 and nationwide surveillance for GBS was begun. This surveillance uncovered a total of 1098 patients with onset of GBS from October 1, 1976, to January 31, 1977, from all 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. A total of 532 patients had recently received an A/New Jersey influenza vaccination prior to their onset of GBS (vaccinated cases), and 15 patients received a vaccination after their onset of GBS. Five hundred forty-three patients had not been recently vaccinated with A/New Jersey influenza vaccine and the vaccination status for 8 was unknown. Epidemiologic evidence indicated that many cases of GBS were related to vaccination. When compared to the unvaccinated population, the vaccinated population had a significantly elevated attack rate in every adult age group. The estimated attributable risk of vaccine-related GBS in the adult population was just under one case per 100,000 vaccinations. The period of increased risk was concentrated primarily within the 5-week period after vaccination, although it lasted for approximately 9 or 10 weeks.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004345:Drug Industry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011129:Polyradiculoneuropathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D044469:Racial Groups; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States
D007252:Influenza Vaccines