Vocal fold paralysis following first dose of Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine

Abstract

Background In a bid to end the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many countries, including the UK, have rolled out mass immunisation programmes. While considered generally safe and effective, vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 have been reported to be associated with rare and potentially adverse reactions and side effects. Case report This paper reports an unusual case of a patient who developed a unilateral vocal fold paralysis shortly after receiving the first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of vocal fold paralysis following administration of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The authors support the position that currently approved coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines remain safe and effective; however, further surveillance and vigilance using real-world data are highly encouraged.