13 Israelis experience transient facial paralysis after undergoing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : Ahmad Gharabli / AFP

 

Nearly 2 million people in Israel have been vaccinated with at least one dose of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, and 13 of them have experienced transient facial paralysis. In addition, nearly 170,000 people in the area have already received the second dose of vaccine.

According to the report published by Israel English newspaper “Times of Israel”, a survey of the first 600 participants vaccinated showed that 70% of the participants felt pain at the injection site, or had mild side effects such as fever, nausea and dizziness within 72 hours, and no one had serious side effects. The Our World in Data database developed by Oxford University and other institutions shows that Israel has the highest per capita vaccination rate at 25.8%. As of Thursday, among the nearly 2 million people who have been vaccinated in the local area, 1127 people have reported side effects. The most common side effects are feeling weak, dizzy, headache and fever. Another 307 people have reported pain or redness at the injection site. The most serious side effect is Bell's Palsy. There are currently 13 cases. Three others have reported bitter iron odor in their mouths, two have breathing difficulties, and one fainted. The Israeli Medical Association recommends that those who develop symptoms of Bell's Palsy after the first dose of the vaccine should not receive the second dose of the vaccine because the relevant information is still insufficient.

The Times of Israel did not mention the specific SARS-CoV-2 vaccine product that caused transient facial paralysis or Bell's Palsy. As of 17 January 2021, Israel has a total number of 535,049 confirmed covid cases and 3910 deaths.

Ref: https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-nearly-170000-get-second-covid-shot-study-shows-no-major-side-effects/