Bottom line:

We do not know for sure what the risk is, but if the past is any indication of the future, the benefit from the vaccine will be far greater than the risk, perhaps 30-40 times greater.

Guillain-Barre (pronounced GEE yen Bar RAY) syndrome, or GBS, is a rare nerve disorder that causes tingling and weakness in the arms and legs that gets worse over time.

Most people recover from GBS. Approximately 85% of patients with GBS recover fully within 6-12 months. About 7-15% have permanent nerve damage or weakness, and less than 1 out of 20 die from lung or heart effects, blood clots or widespread infection in the blood.

GBS occurs normally worldwide at a rate of 1-3 per 100,000 people each year. Most of the time GBS seems to occur after someone has an infection, commonly in the lungs or intestinal tract.

Research shows that the rate of getting GBS from the regular seasonal influenza vaccine is somewhere between zero and one extra case per million people who get the vaccine. The chance of dying from influenza is about 100 times that number, about 36,000 every year. Only about half of those who should get the vaccine do, and it remains the single most effective method of preventing this dangerous disease.

A flu vaccine for H1N1 (Swine) flu was given in 1976 and 1977, and there seemed to be a higher rate of GBS with that vaccine, about 1 additional case per 100,000 people getting the vaccine.

We do not know if the new H1N1 vaccine for 2009 will carry the same risk of GBS as the prior H1N1 vaccine did in the 1970’s. And we don’t know how widespread or dangerous the H1N1 influenza will be for sure. But if the past is any indication, not getting the vaccine will be a lot more risky than getting it.

And if you die from influenza, it is likely that it will be from getting a pneumonia on top of the influenza. So while you are at it, ask your health care provider if you should get the Pneumococcal vaccine, or check out your free Proven Health Ways Health and Wellness Guide on this webpage for more information.