COVID-19 vaccine: 13 out of nearly 2 mil. Israelis suffer facial paralysis
"It is important to note that this is something rare, and I don't want people to avoid getting vaccinated – it's important."
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFUpdated: FEBRUARY 4, 2021 19:17A HEALTHCARE worker prepares a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Rehovot on Monday.(photo credit: YOSSI ALONI/FLASH90)
Some 13 people have experienced mild facial paralysis as an adverse after taking the COVID-19 vaccine, the Health Ministry reported, and estimates are that the number of cases could be higher.Health officials have raised questions about whether or not to administer the second dose to these individuals, but the Health Ministry is recommending that the second dose be given. "For at least 28 hours I walked around with it [facial paralysis]," one person who had the adverse effect told Ynet. "I can't say it was completely gone afterwards, but other than that I had no other pains, except a minor pain where the injection was, but there was nothing beyond that."As for receiving the second dose, he admits he is undecided, but says that "it is important to note that this is something rare, and I don't want people to avoid getting vaccinated – it's important.""I recently came across, for example, someone vaccinated who was dealing with paralysis, and decided not to give her a second dose," Prof. Galia Rahav, director of the Infectious Diseases Unit at Sheba Medical Center told Ynet. "It is true that it can be given according to the Health Ministry, but I did not feel comfortable with it."She added that, "No one knows if this is connected to the vaccine or not. That's why I would refrain from giving a second dose to someone who suffered from paralysis after the first dose."The Health Ministry stated, however, that the second dose should of course be only provided if and when the paralysis passes, Ynet reported.More than two million Israelis have received the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine and the majority have experienced no side effects or mild side effects, according to the Health Ministry. This article was updated and corrected for accuracy on January 20.
