Health Canada adds Bell’s Palsy to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine label as possible side effect
OTTAWA, ON., August 7, 2021 – Health Canada has updated the product information for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to describe very rare reports of Bell’s Palsy (typically temporary weakness or paralysis on one side of the face) following vaccination.
Cases of Bell’s Palsy after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have been reported in a small number of people in Canada and internationally.
Health Canada says 311 patients in Canada so far have reported a case of Bell’s Palsy after getting a COVID-19 shot but that does not specifically mean the condition was caused by the vaccine.
What is Bell’s Palsy?
Bell’s Palsy is an episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. The condition is typically temporary. Symptoms appear suddenly and generally start to improve after a few weeks. The exact cause is unknown. It’s believed to be the result of swelling and inflammation of the nerve that controls muscles on one side of your face.
What to do if you are experiencing some facial paralysis after getting your vaccine
Seek medical attention if you experience any combination of the following symptoms after vaccination: uncoordinated movement of the muscles that control facial expression; loss of feeling in the face; headache; tearing from the eye; drooling; lost sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue; hypersensitivity to sound in one ear; or inability to close an eye on one side of the face.
What about cases of Bell’s Palsy after receiving other COVID-19 vaccines?
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine label already contains safety information about reported cases of Bell’s Palsy following vaccination and the Department is continuing to assess this issue for all authorized COVID-19 vaccines in Canada.
As of July 30, of the 311 cases, 206 people were those who received the Pfizer vaccine, 67 had received Moderna, and 37 others had received Oxford-AstraZeneca.
Health Canada reassures Canadians that COVID-19 vaccines continue to be safe and effective at protecting them against COVID-19. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccines continue to outweigh their potential risks, as scientific evidence shows that they reduce deaths and hospitalizations due to COVID-19.
Health Canada says they are continuing to work with manufacturers, as well as domestic and international partners, to gain a better understanding of the potential relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and adverse events. The Department will take further action if necessary.
For further information on COVID-19 vaccines in Canada, please visit Health Canada’s COVID-19 vaccines and treatments portal.
What consumers should do
Seek medical attention if you experience any combination of the following symptoms after vaccination:
- uncoordinated movement of the muscles that control facial expressions, such as smiling, squinting, blinking or closing the eyelid
- loss of feeling in the face
- headache
- tearing from the eye
- drooling
- lost sense of taste on the front two-thirds of the tongue
- hypersensitivity to sound in the one ear
- inability to close an eye on one side of the face
Report any adverse events after immunization to your healthcare professional.
What health professionals should do
- Be alert to the signs and symptoms of side effects following vaccination with COVID-19 vaccines.
- Report any event potentially related to a vaccine to your local public health unit.
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