The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the annual flu shot for most people. According to the CDC’s data, the flu shot prevents millions of recipients from getting influenza each year, and tens of thousands of people avoid influenza-associated hospitalizations as a result of getting vaccinated. But, despite its benefits, the flu vaccine carries some known risks as well, and this includes the risk of being diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS).

1. GBS and the Flu Vaccine have Been Scientifically Linked.

While there used to be some question as to whether there was a causal relationship between the annual flu shot and GBS, the existence of this relationship is now widely accepted within the medical community. This link led the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to add GBS to the Vaccine Injury Table in 2017. As a result of this addition, it is now easier for individuals who are diagnosed with GBS after receiving a flu shot to secure compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).

2. There are Three Primary Diagnostic Tests and Two Primary Treatment Options for GBS.

Currently, doctors use three primary diagnostic tests to determine if a patient has contracted GBS following a flu shot. If a patient presents with symptoms of GBS, the diagnostic tests performed may include:

  • Electromyography (EMG)
  • Nerve conduction study
  • Spinal tap or lumbar puncture

Since there is currently no known cure for GBS, the primary treatment options focus on managing patients’ symptoms and mitigating the risk of relapse. These treatment options are:

  • Plasmapheresis
  • Immunoglobulin therapy

Learn more about the diagnostic and treatment options for GBS after a flu shot.

3. GBS has Many Variants, All of Which Can Result from a Flu Shot.

There are several variants of GBS, each with its own unique symptoms, prognosis and potential complications. Each of these variants can result from a flu shot:

  • Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (AIDP)
  • Acute Motor Axonal Neuropathy (AMAN)
  • Acute Motor Sensory Axonal Neuropathy (AMSAN)
  • Acute Panautonomic Neuropathy
  • Bickerstaff’s Brainstem Encephalitis (BBE)
  • Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
  • Miller Fisher Syndrome (MFS)
  • Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant

4. The Costs of Flu Shot-Related GBS Can Be Substantial.

The financial costs of a GBS (or GBS variant) diagnosis can be substantial, and some individuals may experience lasting effects, including chronic pain and limited mobility or paralysis. The VICP provides compensation for flu shot recipients current and future medical expenses, rehabilitative treatment expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering.

5. Individuals Diagnosed with GBS After a Flu Shot have Three Years to File a Claim Under the VICP.

The statute of limitations under the VICP is three years from the date of the first symptom or manifestation of onset of GBS. However, in order to maximize the chances of recovering full compensation as soon as possible, individuals who are diagnosed with GB