ROCHESTER, N.Y. — It’s rare, but the Food and Drug Administration says some people have developed a neurological condition known as Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

“It’s an uncommon disorder that affects strength and causes weakness that can be very serious, and is associated with vaccines already," said Dr. David Gill, a neurologist and chair of the department of neurology at Rochester Regional Health’s Unity Hospital.

What You Need To Know

  • The FDA says some people have developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome after receiving the J&J vaccine

  • Guillain-Barre is an autoimmune disease

  • Roughly 100 cases of the disease have been reported out of the millions of doses of the vaccine that have been administered

  • Symptoms include pain and tingling in the extremities, weakness and heart arrhythmia

Dr. Gill says it’s associated with the flu and shingles vaccines, along with some illnesses.

The FDA says Guillain-Barre Syndrome, or GBS, has occurred in some people during the 42 days after they received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

“Two weeks after getting the vaccine, it comes back that I’m autoimmune positive," said Wendy Stumpf of Mendon. "We’re not sure what autoimmune, it was brand new information to me, no reason to think that I would even have an autoimmune disease.”

Two weeks after that diagnosis, Stumpf says symptoms developed similar to those of GBS, including vertigo, ringing in the ears and pain in her fingers, toes and lips called neuralgia.

“It’s scary not knowing what’s going on and having all of these things happen when you’re usually healthy,” said Stumpf.

After a number of tests and doctor visits, they’re still trying to figure what Stumpf has. Guillain-Barre Syndrome has not been confirmed.

“It can happen to anyone, so there aren’t any clear risks that we know of," said Dr. Gill. "It’s certainly associated with this particular vaccine, this is all brand new so time will tell,” said Dr. Gill.

The Unity Hospital neurologist says roughly 100 cases have been reported out of the millions of J&J doses given, so he believes the vaccine is still safe to administer, however, people should check with a medical provider before getting the vaccine.

“I want to get back to enjoying my life; this is not living my life,” said Stumpf.

Rochester Regional Health says Guillain-Barre Syndrome goes away over time with or without medication, but people with symptoms should get checked out immediately.

Johnson & Johnson released this statement addressing the risk:

"The safety and well-being of the people who use our products is our number one priority.

"Rare cases of the neurological disorder, Guillain-Barré syndrome have been reported following vaccination with the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. Most occurred within 42 days after vaccination. While the chance of having this occur is very low, Johnson & Johnson has updated its COVID-19 Vaccine Factsheet to include important information about these rare cases and on the signs and symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome. Updates with this new information will be implemented in other regions of the world according to local regulatory procedures.

"Any adverse event report about individuals receiving Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, as well as our own assessment of the report, is shared with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, the World Health Organization and other health authorities around the world where our vaccine is authorized. We strongly support raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of rare events to ensure they can be quickly identified and effectively treated.

"Evidence has demonstrated that Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine offers protection against COVID-19 disease and prevents hospitalization and death, including in countries where viral variants are highly prevalent. A single-shot vaccine that provides this level of protection represents an important tool in the global fight against COVID-19, as we strive to help end this deadly pandemic."