[nudephil (OP)]

Wendy sent us the following question:

I was admitted to hospital in January 2009 as I was unable to walk, with my legs going numb, constant tingling, and unable to feel and control my hands. Two weeks earlier I had a flu jab. I was told I had Guillain-Barre syndrome and the flu jab had caused it. I have not had one since.

It has now turned to CIDP, and I have an infusion of immunoglobulin every six months which helps with the numbness in my legs, balance, and the constant tingling in my legs and hands. I am 75 years old. Would it be wise for me to have the COVID jab? 

[Bored chemist]

Nobody here will be able to give you better advice than your doctor.

[chris]

Hi Wendy

It sounds like your situation is a bit more complex than Guillain-Barre syndrome secondary to a flu vaccine with evolution into CIDP. CIDP is not well understood but does appear to respond to the modulatory effects of immunoglobulin infusion, though we don't know why.

The covid-19 vaccine is quite different in composition to a flu vaccine, and it may not have been the flu vaccine in the first place that actually caused your problem - in some people, immunological reactions happen for a range of reasons. For this reason, I would not judge your history to be a contraindication to covid vaccination, but, naturally, this is a decision for you to make in concert with your GP and / or the immunologist who looks after your CIDP.