Vocal Fold Immobility Following Vaccination

Vocal fold immobility (VFI) may severely affect quality of life due to dysphonia and respiratory distress. Many etiologies of this disorder have been evaluated, however the relationship between VFI and vaccination has yet to be explored. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between VFI and vaccine administration.

The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database was queried for patients exhibiting symptoms of VFI following vaccination. Patient demographics and clinical information including presenting symptoms, time of symptom onset, laterality, outcomes, and adverse events were documented.

Twenty-two patients were found to have VFI following vaccination. Of those reported, 13 patients were female (59.1%) and 8 were male (36.4%) with an average age of 48.4 years. Vaccinations for influenza, shingles, pneumococcus, and hepatitis B were reported. A majority of these cases were unilateral in nature (73.3%). Mean lag time from vaccination to symptom onset was 6.3 days (range 0-45 days). Five adverse events were reported, with 4 patients requiring intubation and tracheostomy.

Vaccine administration may be associated with VFI and physicians should be cognizant of this potential adverse event. This is a rare complication with less reported cases than other post-vaccination cranial neuropathies. The difficulty in establishing an initial diagnosis and need for specialized evaluation by an otolaryngologist may result in under-reporting of such events. Further research is needed to delineate the exact pathophysiology of this complication and determine whether a causal relationship exists.