Understandably, this has caused many people to doubt the safety of the J&J vaccine. However, we would like to point out that GBS is a very rare condition, which is associated with the administration of various vaccines and other medicines, and can also be triggered by infections such as SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 vaccines have consistently been shown to prevent severe forms of disease, hospitalisation and death. Investigations of all severe reported adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination are ongoing, and any updates on the outcomes of these investigations will be shared with you.

Based on the currently available evidence, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has determined that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination far outweigh the very low risk of severe adverse events, including GBS.

The public are strongly advised not to delay COVID-19 vaccination if they are eligible in terms of the national vaccination programme.