Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Influenza Vaccines Affords Opportunity to Improve Vaccine Confidence

Abstract

Influenza causes serious illness and death, especially in high-risk groups such as older adults [ 1]. The United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated an average of 23 607 annual US influenza-associated deaths from 1976 to 2007, although these estimates ranged widely from year to year [ 2]. Studies have also estimated an average of 130 000 annual US influenza-associated hospitalizations [ 3, 4].