A Rare Variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome Following Ad26.COV2.S Vaccination

Abstract

Efforts to combat the global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) range from adequate diagnostic testing and contract tracing to vaccination for the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the United States alone, three vaccinations have been authorized for emergency use (EUA) or approved to prevent COVID-19. The Ad26.COV2.S vaccine by Johnson and Johnson (New Brunswick, New Jersey) is the only adenovirus-based vaccine and deemed relatively effective and safe by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following its clinical trial. Since its introduction, the US FDA has placed a warning on the vaccine adverse event reporting system (VAERS) after more than 100 cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were reported. Herein, we outline the hospital course of a generally healthy 49-year-old female who experienced an axonal form of GBS nine days after receiving the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine.