I almost lost my mother to what two neurologists believe is vaccine-induced severe and life-threatening adverse effect. My extended family, especially those in their senior years, are reluctant to get their second dose. But I, as a person educated in the sciences, still make a stand and advocates that everyone needs to get vaccinated. I am sure, even my mother who had a near-death experience, could be convinced to have her second dose once her doctors recommend it.
On May 20, 2021, my 73-year-old mother, along with my 75-year-old father had their first dose of Astra Zeneca in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro. Everything seemed normal, except for my father’s observation that my mother was not doing her usual morning garden routines. Thirteen days after, at early morning, I got a call from her, complaining that she is experiencing numbness and couldn’t feel the soles of her feet. I referred her to my elementary classmate, internationally trained and UP-PGH-educated neurologist Dr. Zernan Labaguiz who made an initial diagnosis of Guillain Barre Syndrome secondary to Covid-19 vaccine. She was advised hospitalization and the family decided to bring her to Manila, in no time, as both my wife, a pediatrician, and I knew the life-threatening risks she is facing.
Understanding Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barre (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) Syndrome (GBS) is a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks the nerves. Weakness and tingling in the extremities are usually the first symptoms. These sensations can quickly spread, eventually paralyzing the whole body in an ascending manner. The danger is the paralysis reaching the respiratory muscles, making its severe form a medical emergency. The exact cause of Guillain-Barre Syndrome is unknown.
Incidence of GBS after Covid Vaccine
The web site of the American Neurological Association cited two new Annals, one from India and one from England, both reporting clusters of an unusual variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Seven cases are reported from a regional medical center in Kerali, India where about 1.2 million people were vaccinated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. Four cases are reported from Nottingham, England, in an area in which about 700,000 people received the same vaccine. All 11 cases were among people who had received that vaccine 10 to 22 days earlier. The frequency of Guillain-Barre Syndrome in these areas was estimated at about 4-10 times greater than expected baseline frequency.
The accompanying Editorial reports an additional similar case seen in Boston in a patient who had received the Johnson & Johnson SARS-Cov2 vaccine. They note that 5 of 8 cases of GBS in the US were reported in people who had received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which, like the AstraZeneca vaccine, is adenovirus-based. (the AstraZeneca vaccine is not available in the US); only three cases were seen in the much larger number of patients who had received the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. According to the American Neurological Association, these observations suggest that, like the thrombocytopenic thrombosis associated with these two adenovirus-based vaccines, Guillain-Barre Syndrome with bilateral facial weakness may be a rare, but specific complication.
In an article written by Professor Nathan Bartlett of the University of Newcastle on May 14, 2021 at The Conversation, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration reported that there were six cases of GBS out of the 1.8 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines administered in Australia so far. “This means the syndrome has affected about one in 300,000, which is less than the rate at which it occurs in the population normally; in adults, we see about two to three cases per 100,000 people every year,” according to him.
Indeed, at this stage, there isn’t cause for serious concern. Dr. Lulu Bravo, the president of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, shares the same conclusion. And the evidence-based professional in me agrees.
The Mother’s GBS Ordeal
The family’s decision to admit my mother to the University of the East—Ramon Magsaysay Medical Center, where my pediatrician wife graduated medicine, was based on good reputation of the hospital in the management of neurological cases. My mother tested negative for Covid-19 but was admitted in a Covid-19 ward because her x-ray showed pneumonia. Surprisingly, the Covid-19 facility of UERMMC seemed to be safer compared with the usual private rooms—given the isolation precautions strictly enforced in the unit. Under the care of probably the best Neurologist Dr. Erman Fandialan, who permitted the publication of this article, and Neuro-surgeon Dr. Elmer Jose Meceda, my mother went through the symptoms of the GBS. Aside from excruciating pains of the lower extremities up to the waist, she also manifested acute hallucinations and delusions. She had every symptom written in medical books. Many laboratory tests were performed including the lumbar puncture to extract her spinal fluids to determine various confirmatory information about her GBS, including her being negative of Covid-19. Her paralysis ascended to her respiratory muscles leading to her intubation and her breathing support through a mechanical ventilator for four days.
She was managed effectively and efficiently with the combination of the intravenous immunoglobulin and the plasma exchange. The treatment involved a surgery through her neck, performed by Surgeon Dr. Rafael Azares, accessing her larger vein to intermittently drain her blood into a machine and return it back as a cleansed blood carrying less of the immune bodies that destroy her own nerves. The plasma exchange treatments were supervised by Hematologist Dr. Alma Calavera. Her respiratory functions were monitored by Pulmonologist Dr. Randy Castillo and her infection through Drs. Mario Panaligan and Claro Antonio. Her special nutritional intake through the naso-gastric tube was through Internal Medicine—Nutrition Specialist Dr. Frances Turalba and her urinary functions through Nephrologist Dr. Meinard Nepomuceno. Her preventive rehabilitation was started immediately by Rehabilitation Specialist Dr. Josephine Bundoc. The nursing service headed by Chief Nurse Yolanda Zamora, 3 North 1 Charge Nurse Catherine Pinera, 4 South Head Nurse Renato Tumaning, along with nurses and professionals in the Respiratory Therapy, Dietary and Laboratory departments where synergistic in making sure that my mother’s needs are well attended to, with the help of our bedside caregiver Carlita Temblor. The pivotal role belongs to my wife Dr. Lyne who juggled from being a consultant, clearing house of all information, financial auditor of her bills and purchaser of her needs.
Imagine the hospital bills considering her three weeks of hospitalization. But the life of the family’s matriarch has no value, of course. And by the way, PhilHealth enlists GBS as fifth in the Adverse Events of Special Interests and puts a maximum cap of only P100,000 in hospitalization claim. This hardly can afford a complete dose of Intravenous immunoglobulin.
As of this writing, my mother is thankfully due for discharge, still for home rehabilitation, and is ready to learn how to walk again, similar to how GBS patients recover. Her recovery is remarkable considering her age. “For the books,” according to Dr. Fandialan. The family is ready to show her all the love she needs in the same way she was able to give her care and love to all—her husband, children, in-laws, grandchildren, family and friends. The happiest, for sure, is my father who was in the early stage never tough enough to hide his tears to some members of the family, regretful that he couldn’t be by her side through the tough time. The greatest tool for her recovery remains to be what the grandchildren believed was the best reason why she survived and recovered well and fast—their nightly rosaries and prayers, virtually together.
The family’s horrifying and painful experience is not reason enough to doubt that humanity’s best hope to end the pandemic remains to be the vaccine. But it’s still vanishingly rare, and this risk of GBS, and other probable adverse effects—if indeed there is a link—doesn’t come close to outweighing the benefit of the vaccine.
For feedback, please send e-mail to drcarlbalita@yahoo.com.
2 comments
You still believe in the vaccine because you’re a brainwashed moron. Haven’t you seen how many people have died from this toxic poison aka vaccine?
I wonder if his mom is still alive with the second dose?