Neurological complications are higher with SARS-CoV-2 infection than COVID vaccine, study finds

Research published in the journal Nature Medicine suggests a risk for neurological complications after the first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the likelihood of developing neurological complications remains far greater among people infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Their findings show that for every 10 million people who were given an AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, about 38 cases were linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome. In this rare disorder, the body’s immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. For every 10 million people who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, there were 145 reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome. “Clinicians should be aware of these rare complications, and the findings from this study will be paramount to policy makers in risk–benefit evaluations and health-care resource allocation. Importantly, the risks of adverse neurological events following SARS-CoV-2 infection are much greater than those associated with vaccinations, highlighting the benefits of ongoing vaccination programs,” concluded the research...