Vaccine side effects - Bell’s palsy

[QuantumCheese]

I had Bell’s palsy about 20 years ago when I was pregnant and it was horrible. A mixture of pain, pregnancy hormones and having a facial disfigurement, although it was resolved eventually, caused me severe distress for many weeks.
So we are being offered the new Pfizer covid vaccine at work and it came to my attention that Bell’s palsy has been mentioned as one of the possible side effects and I’m terrified of this, even more than catching covid itself. I know it’s not logical and I’m being ridiculous but I can’t get this fear out of my head. It’s my Achilles heel unfortunately and I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know what the chances of getting it again and also that the chances of it happening due to the vaccine are very low but I can’t stop thinking about it. I should have the vaccine but I’m scared and wonder if the Oxford one would be better, if I could even get this later.

Before anyone slates me for being stupid, I know I am and should be grateful to be even offered a vaccine, but this is a big (irrational) fear for me. Any advice?

I looked into this as my DH had a Bell's Palsy in his 20s. Several people who got the vaccine in the trial did suffer a Bell's Palsy but the percentage rate was the same as the normal population so it could just be a coincidence.

Well, what age are you? any underlying conditions? overweight?
If you are a normal weight and under 60 with no metabolic or cardiovascular issues then I would just say no thank you to the vaccine. Most young people are having it to protect older people. Nobody sane would judge you for declining it in your circumstances. I wouldn't.

bells Palsy happens for many reasons so as pp said above its likely just the general rate that would have got it regardless.

I also had Bell’s palsy over 20 years ago and totally understand, it was awful. However I also looked into the research and it the numbers were small enough to be a statistical blip. 4 people out of 38k got BP, none in the placebo group but still within the range of normal population.

There’s a good article on the Full Fact website. I’ll have the jab

I’m more worried about the effect of this thread.

ofgs, let the OP process her own concerns. Her health history is different from yours.

The vaccine is not mandatory so stop.

I’m more worried about the effect of this thread.

THIS!

a quick Google pulls up studies showing the general rate per 100000 is 30-40 anyway, so the fact 4 out of 38000 vaccine participants got it does not show it is linked at all.

no there isn't

Dowser - Where have you heard these stories?

FFS

There are also several reports of patients infected with covid-19 suffering from facial palsy, possibly caused by the viral infection. Therefore, given that the incidence within the trial was within the normal range of infection and that there is a possibility covid infection may also cause it I don't see why you would need to worry about the vaccine specifically. As always, I would always be more worried about a viral infection causing a side effect than a vaccine.

www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-23216/v1

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7531061/

@AgnesNaismith

I’m more worried about the effect of this thread.

yup!

Well, I wont be surprised if the OP doesn't come back now.

Speak to your GP and ask their advice, not randoms on the internet.

OP here is the full fact website a PP mentioned: fullfact.org/online/bells-palsy-vaccine-trial/

As others have said, you would expect a certain number of people to get bell's palsy (and MS, Alzheimer's, depression, be hit by a car, food poisoning etc) anyway. As the numbers are broadly comparable to the general population it suggests it's not a side effect :)

Well, I wont be surprised if the OP doesn't come back now

Good - this is a question for her dr, who will reassure her, not some randos on the internet who will scare the shit out of her.

If people aren’t vaccinated this won’t go away.

I had the same in pregnancy and I would still have the vaccine, I'm not worried at all.

It might be an idea for everyone who quoted @Dowser to report their own post and get it removed. They're doesn't need to be a trace of the scaremongering now it's gone.