The Food and Drug Administration still believes the benefits of Johnson & Johnson’s (NYSE:JNJ) COVID-19 vaccine outweigh its risks, but has concluded that the vaccine is associated with rare cases of Guillain–Barré syndrome. A warning is forthcoming, according to media reports.
Researchers have also linked prior vaccines, including a swine flu vaccine introduced in the 1970s, with the syndrome, which destroys nerves and can cause paralysis and sometimes death. Most frequently, however, the syndrome predominantly affects the lower extremities before ascending to spread muscle weakness. Many people with the condition, however, recover.
Federal officials have concluded that recipients of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are more likely to contract Guillain–Barré than the background population. A statement from Johnson & Johnson concluded that “the rate of reported cases exceeds the background rate by a small degree.”
FDA stopped short of e…