No links between 2009 swine flu vaccine and Guillain-Barré syndrome medics say

The swine flu vaccine panic concerning potential links to Guillain-Barré syndrome are unfounded, according to medical experts.

A study looking at the potential risks of adjuvanted pandemic influenza vaccines used during the 2009 pandemic did not increase the risk of developing the syndrome, finds research published on the British Medical Journal website today.

The rare disorder causes damage to the nerve cells which can lead to paralysis.

Concerns were raised during the 2009 vaccination programme that people may develop Guillain-Barré syndrome due to the vaccine.

A US flu pandemic in 1976, found a link between swine flu vaccination at the time and a surge in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

The latest study on 2009 statistics, found 104 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome – and its variant Miller Fisher syndrome – occurred in a population of 50 million people.