Increased rate of facial paralysis cases in elderly following Pfizer's covid boost

Researchers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), have reported that there has been a increased rate in incidences of facial paralysis in older people who used the Pfizer booster for the covid-19 vaccine.

The organization's researchers explained that they conducted a study in which a "small but statistically significant elevation" of Bell's palsy, which suddenly weakens the muscles on one side of the face, was evident.

The incidence rate of the study was 1.13 and remained constant even with adjustments for different factors such as previous coronavirus infections. It should be noted that a rate greater than one indicates that there is a possible connection between the vaccine and an adverse event.

The paralysis data was analyzed from August 12, 2021 through May 14, 2022, and then a comparison was made with pre-pandemic figures.

FDA advisor proposes avoiding boosters in healthy people

Recently, an immunology expert and advisor to the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine panel named Paul Offit opined that neither young nor healthy people should actually get any coronavirus vaccine booster.

According to Offit's explanation, bivalent boosters do not elicit higher immune responses and should only be reserved for those in need of greater protection, such as the elderly.

More risk at higher doses

Another study also revealed that the of the covid-19 vaccine.

According to the Cleveland Clinic research, this conclusion was reached after evaluating a group of people who chose to receive fewer than 3 vaccines and realized that they were precisely those who were at the lowest risk of contracting the disease.

"One could reasonably expect these individuals to have been more likely to have exhibited higher risk-taking behavior. Despite this, their risk of acquiring COVID-19 was lower than those who received a larger number of prior vaccine dose," the health center report states.