What are the signs of Bell’s palsy?
According to NINDS, Bell’s palsy usually affects only one side of the face, but it’s possible that it could spread to the other side as well. This shows up in the form of sudden weakness on one side of the face, a drooping eyelid or corner of the mouth, drooling, an inability to close the eye or mouth, weakened taste buds, and excessive tearing of the eye. Symptoms usually appear out of nowhere and reach peak severity within three days of their onset.
How is Bell’s palsy treated?
Usually, the condition is treated with steroids and antiviral medications. Physicians would also recommend retraining the eyelid muscles by utilizing an eye patch in the event that eye nerves are damaged and can’t close properly. NINDS also recommends analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve pain.
How does this link to the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Per the FDA’s report released on December 8, their team said that research data from their 38,000 participant study “suggest a favorable safety profile, with no specific safety concerns identified that would preclude issuance of an EUA” for Pfizer’s vaccine.
“Otherwise, there were no notable patterns or numerical imbalances between treatment groups for specific categories of non-serious adverse events (including other neurologic, neuroinflammatory, and thrombotic events) that would suggest a causal relationship to BNT162b2 vaccine,” as the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is called, the FDA staff wrote per the report.
The FDA also said it will review the advisory committee’s recommendations as it deliberates on the validity of the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA is expected to move swiftly as medical professionals are eager to flatten the COVID-19 curve.