[Literature review on the association between inactivated influenza vaccines and the Guillain-Barré syndrome].

PURPOSE: To summarize data on associations between inactivated influenza vaccines and the Guillain-Barré syndrome.

METHODS

The association between inactivated influenza vaccines and the Guillain-Barré syndrome was described and discussed, mainly on the basis of previous studies cited in "Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices".

RESULTS

The A/New Jersey/76 swine influenza vaccine has been reported to be associated with occurrence of the Guillain-Barré syndrome. However, it is unclear whether seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines are associated with the occurrence of the syndrome. According to a study from the United States, which reported a statistically significant association between seasonal inactivated influenza vaccines and Guillain-Barré syndrome, the best estimate of maximum attributable risk, after allowing for study limitations, is 1.6 cases per million vaccinations.

DISCUSSION: We could not draw any definite conclusions about any causal relationship between seasonal influenza vaccination and the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Therefore we considering the estimated benefits of seasonal influenza vaccination to outweigh the reported risk of subsequent development of the Guillain-Barré syndrome.