Recent COVID-19 vaccination not linked to Facial nerve palsy, Study says

Adjusted odds ratio for recent exposure to the BNT162b2 vaccine among patients with acute-onset peripheral facial nerve palsy. The proportion of patients with Bell palsy exposed to the BNT162b2 vaccine was compared between groups, and raw and adjusted odds ratios for exposure to the vaccine were calculated.

A secondary comparison with the overall number of patients with facial nerve palsy in preceding years was performed.

The following results were observed-

a. Thirty-seven patients were admitted for facial nerve palsy during the study period, 22 (59.5%) of whom were male, and their mean (SD) age was 50.9 (20.2) years.

b. Among recently vaccinated patients (21 [56.7%]), the mean (SD) time from vaccination to occurrence of palsy was 9.3 (4.2 [range, 3-14]) days from the first dose and 14.0 (12.6 [range, 1-23]) days from the second dose.

c. Among 74 matched controls (2:1 ratio) with identical age, sex, and admittance date, a similar proportion were vaccinated recently (44 [59.5%]).

d. The adjusted odds ratio for exposure was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.37-1.90; P = .67).

e. Furthermore, analysis of the number of admissions for facial nerve palsy during the same period in preceding years (2015-2020) revealed a relatively stable trend (mean [SD], 26.8 [5.8]; median, 27.5 [range, 17-35]).

Therefore, the authors concluded that "in this case-control analysis, no association was found between recent vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine and risk of facial nerve palsy."