A local teenager diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome questions COVID-19 vaccine after receiving the first dose

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Wyatt McGlaun, a teenager from The Woodlands, said he received Guillan-Barre syndrome a few weeks after his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“I wanted to get the vaccine. I felt I was right, “McGlaun said.” I wanted to travel and enjoy my last summer before college. “

However, he said, he became extremely weak and had difficulty walking when he was admitted to CHI St. Luke’s at The Woodlands, where he was diagnosed.

“I just knew something was wrong. It didn’t get any better, ”Wyatt explained.

The NIH reports a case of GBS in an 82-year-old woman, who also received a dose of the vaccine.

Dr. Charles Sims, Montgomery County Health Authority and St. Louis Infectious Disease Physician. Luke’s in The Woodlands said it is most often caused by a viral or bacterial infection and cannot say that the vaccine caused Wyatt’s condition.

“Cases have been seen in people who have received the vaccine, but they do not have a higher rate than people who have not received the vaccine. Guillan Barre is seen in one or two people per million a year,” said the Dr. Sims.

Announcements

Therefore, Dr. Sims said the disease could be a coincidence.

Although Wyatt’s parents said they don’t try to deter anyone from the vaccine, they do want others to recognize if that happens to them.

“Investigate,” Joe McGlaun said. “It’s a personal choice.”

“Listening to your body is the greatest thing I’ve learned,” Wyatt said.

Dr. Sims said if adverse reactions are reported to the CDC, they will be investigated. Wyatt’s family said they plan to report him.