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Injury Guide

Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

A rare disorder in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, causing weakness that can come on quickly. It is on the Table for seasonal flu vaccines.

By VaccineInjuries.org Editorial Team · Last reviewed

Good to know: Guillain-Barré syndrome is rare. NINDS notes that it usually starts a few days or weeks after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection, and that most people eventually recover.

This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. If you have symptoms, please talk to a doctor.

What is Guillain-Barré syndrome?

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare neurological disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of the peripheral nervous system, the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, it often begins suddenly and can worsen over hours, days, or weeks.

The CDC notes that GBS often follows an infection with a virus or bacteria. Timing after a vaccine, on its own, doesn't show that the vaccine was the cause, which is why the full medical history, including any recent illness, matters.

People with GBS are usually treated in the hospital. NINDS notes that most people eventually recover, even from severe cases, though some continue to have weakness afterward.

Typical symptoms

  • Weakness that often starts in the feet and legs and can spread upward
  • Tingling, "pins and needles," or pain, often in the feet, hands, legs, or back
  • Difficulty walking, climbing stairs, or keeping balance
  • In more serious cases, trouble with facial or eye muscles, swallowing, or breathing
  • Changes in heart rate or blood pressure

When symptoms typically start

NINDS notes that most people reach their weakest point within the first two weeks after symptoms appear, and that GBS usually starts a few days or weeks after a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. For a Table claim after a seasonal flu vaccine, the first symptom must begin 3 to 42 days after vaccination (the exact wording is below).

Is Guillain-Barré syndrome on the Vaccine Injury Table?

Yes, for one vaccine category. Guillain-Barré syndrome is listed on the Vaccine Injury Table for seasonal flu vaccines only:

Quoted from the Vaccine Injury Table, 42 CFR 100.3
VaccineTime period for first symptom
Seasonal influenza vaccines3-42 days (not less than 3 days and not more than 42 days).
  • The Table describes GBS as "an acute monophasic peripheral neuropathy" in which the time from first symptoms to the worst point of weakness "is between 12 hours and 28 days," followed by a plateau or improvement.
  • The Table excludes cases where another diagnosis is more likely, and it lists conditions that rule out Table GBS, including chronic immune demyelinating polyradiculopathy (CIDP) and myelitis.
  • After other VICP-covered vaccines, GBS is not on the Table. A claim would be off-Table and would need proof that the vaccine caused it.
  • COVID-19 vaccines are covered by the CICP rather than the VICP, and there is currently no COVID-19 injury table.

New to these terms? Read the difference between Table and off-Table injuries.

Filing deadlines

Both federal programs have strict deadlines. Missing one can end a claim, even a strong one, so it helps to write down key dates early.

VICP (most routine vaccines)

  • Injury claims: generally within 3 years after the first symptom or manifestation of onset or of the significant aggravation of the injury.
  • Death claims: within 2 years of the death and within 4 years of the first symptom of the injury that led to the death.
  • Table changes: if the Vaccine Injury Table is changed in a way that newly covers an injury, a claim may be filed within 2 years of the change for injuries up to 8 years before it.

CICP (COVID-19 vaccines and other countermeasures)

  • Generally within 1 year of the date the vaccine or other covered countermeasure was given.
  • HRSA notes that a letter of intent can be submitted to help meet the deadline while records are gathered.
  • The CICP does not pay attorneys' fees.

Severity requirement (VICP):the effects of the injury generally must have lasted more than 6 months, or resulted in inpatient hospitalization and surgical intervention, or resulted in death. Reporting a reaction to VAERS is not the same as filing a claim. See HRSA's VICP eligibility rules and CICP filing process, or our guide to vaccine injury filing deadlines.

Records that matter

You don't need to have everything gathered before asking questions. These are the records that typically help show what happened and when:

  • Vaccination record showing the vaccine and date
  • Emergency room and hospital records, including the admission history of when symptoms began
  • Neurology consultations and the discharge diagnosis
  • Nerve conduction studies or EMG, and lumbar puncture (spinal fluid) results
  • Treatment records, such as IVIG or plasma exchange
  • Records of any illness in the weeks before symptoms started
  • Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and follow-up records showing recovery or lasting effects

Frequently asked questions

Is Guillain-Barré syndrome on the Vaccine Injury Table?

Yes, for seasonal flu vaccines. The Table lists GBS when the first symptom begins 3 to 42 days after a seasonal influenza vaccine and the case meets the Table's definition. For other covered vaccines, GBS is not on the Table, so a claim would need to prove the vaccine caused it.

Does getting GBS after a vaccine mean the vaccine caused it?

Not necessarily. GBS often follows a viral or bacterial infection, and timing alone does not prove cause. That is why the medical records, including any recent illness, are reviewed closely.

What if my GBS followed a COVID-19 vaccine?

COVID-19 vaccine claims go to the Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), not the VICP. There is currently no COVID-19 injury table, and the CICP generally requires filing within one year of vaccination.

How long do I have to file a GBS claim with the VICP?

Generally within three years after the first symptom. If GBS led to a death, the claim must be filed within two years of the death and within four years of the first symptom. These deadlines are strict, so it helps to write down your dates early.

Related articles

Sources

Official regulations and government health sources used for this guide:

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