The risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome after tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccines in adults and children in the United States.

Tuttle, J; Chen, R T; Rantala, H; Cherry, J D; Rhodes, P H; Hadler, S · Am J Public Health · 1997

review · Level V

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Abstract

This study examined whether there is a risk that tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccines could cause Guillain-Barré syndrome and, if so, how large the risk is. This study was based on previous active surveillance epidemiological studies of Guillain-Barré syndrome and vaccination history. A background rate of 0.3 cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome per million person-weeks has been estimated. By chance, 2.2 people with the syndrome would have received tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccine within the 6 weeks before onset, yet only 1 person had done so. Data on children show similar results. If an association exists, it must be extremely rare and not of public health significance.

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