Side Effect: Guillain-Barre Syndrome: Neurological Adverse Effect of the COVID-19 Vaccine

Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) is an acute, rare, autoimmune disorder distinguished by the body’s immune system attacking peripheral nerves and causing gradual weakness and areflexia. Despite rare occurrence worldwide, it is one of the most common causes of acute flaccid paralysis with severe neurological sequelae. The mechanism of GBS involves molecular mimicry, in which existing bacterial or viral infection triggers abnormal activation of both humoral and cellular immune responses directed against peripheral nerve components, leading to demyelination or axonal damage. Several cases of GBS temporally associated with COVID-19 vaccination have been reported worldwide. Most cases occurred within weeks of vaccination; Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. Clinical features of vaccine associated GBS were consistent with typical GBS presentations, including symmetrical muscle weakness, sensory abnormality, areflexia, and cranial nerve involvement. The diagnosis of GBS depends on clinical evaluation, including electrodiagnostic, analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, and exclusion of other causes. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis are the recommended therapies to treat GBS. However, in severe cases, specifically complicated respiratory failure or autonomic dysfunction. Thus, the persistent symptoms of residual weakness and neuropathic in patients require multidisciplinary follow-up and respiratory and physical rehabilitation to facilitate recovery. Post-marketing surveillance, pharmacovigilance programs, and active surveillance studies play crucial roles in assessing the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines, ensuring the safety of vaccination campaigns, and informing public health decisions. Furthermore, healthcare providers should remain vigilant for GBS symptoms in vaccinated individuals and promptly report suspected cases to appropriate regulatory authorities. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and assess the risk-benefit profile of COVID-19 vaccines in diverse populations.