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Swine flu vaccine and multiple sclerosis

L T Kurland, C A Molgaard, E M Kurland

    JAMA
    |May 25, 1984
    PubMed

    Insights

    The 1976 swine flu vaccine did not increase the risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS). Studies found no excess MS cases or exacerbations linked to the vaccine, indicating no causal relationship.

    Area of Science:

    • Epidemiology
    • Immunology
    • Neurology

    Background:

    • Concerns arose regarding a potential link between the 1976 swine flu vaccine and multiple sclerosis (MS).
    • Previous analyses did not establish an association between vaccination and MS onset or exacerbations.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To estimate the number of new multiple sclerosis cases following swine flu vaccination.
    • To investigate potential associations between swine flu vaccination and MS incidence or exacerbations.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized age-specific rates from national surveys to estimate expected MS cases in vaccine recipients.
    • Analyzed hospital admission data before, during, and after the swine flu immunization program.
    • Reviewed findings from three independent controlled clinical trials comparing vaccine and placebo groups.

    Main Results:

    • An estimated 1,624 new multiple sclerosis cases were expected among 45 million swine flu vaccine recipients.
    • No excess frequency of MS cases or exacerbations was observed compared to expected rates or placebo groups.
    • Analyses of US Army hospitals and Mayo Clinic data showed no increase in MS admissions.

    Conclusions:

    • The 1976 swine flu vaccine is not implicated as an etiologic factor in the onset or exacerbation of multiple sclerosis.
    • Epidemiological data and clinical investigations indicate no association or cause-and-effect relationship between swine flu vaccine and MS.

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