VAERS reported new-onset seizures following use of Covid 19 vaccinations as compared to influenza vaccinations

Authors

Jagannadha Avasarala, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY.Follow
Christopher J. McLouth, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Luther C. Pettigrew, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Sally Mathias, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Sharoon Qaiser, Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY.
Phenu Zachariah, kristen.nelsonmcmillan@aah.orgFollow

Recommended Citation

Avasarala J, McLouth CJ, Pettigrew LC, Mathias S, Qaiser S, Zachariah P. VAERS-reported new-onset seizures following use of COVID-19 vaccinations as compared to influenza vaccinations. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2022;88(11):4784-4788. doi:10.1111/bcp.15415

Affiliations

Aurora Medical Center, Kenosha

Abstract

The incidence of new-onset seizures, which we defined as de novo seizures occurring within four weeks of receiving any of the FDA-approved Covid 19 vaccinations as reported in patient-reported data compiled in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System Data (CDC VAERS) has not been explored. The VAERS database contains de-identified patient-reported adverse events following vaccinations and represents post-marketing surveillance and analysis of vaccine safety. After adjusting for time at risk, this resulted in estimated incidence rates of 3.19 seizures per 100,000 persons per year for the Covid 19 vaccine and 0.090 seizures per 100,000 persons per year. A data-driven, individualized dataset that is comprehensive and coupled with a longitudinal follow-up in larger numbers of vaccinated individuals is needed to expand on our preliminary findings of vaccine-related seizures.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

35599598