The Claim:
An actress is gaining attention for her decision to end her life. She asserts that a COVID booster caused her to develop myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and possibly respiratory amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
The Facts:
ME/CFS is a complex and poorly understood condition characterized by persistent fatigue, post-exertional malaise, and a range of other symptoms. At this time, there is no evidence that COVID vaccines used in the U.S. can cause ME/CFS or ALS. We did find one case report of ME/CFS symptoms after the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
We do know that researchers have noted a correlation between COVID infection, Long-COVID, and ME/CFS, even after mild and asymptomatic cases. In fact, half of Long-COVID patients have chronic fatigue symptoms.
ME/CFS is tragic, but the best way to avoid ME/CFS is through vaccination.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. We also found a case report of a viral vector COVID vaccine being temporally associated with ALS symptom onset. Interestingly, the patient in the case report had a family history of ALS. Research has pointed to a strong genetic link to ALS.
Disclaimer: Science is always evolving and our understanding of these topics may have evolved too since this was originally posted. Be sure to check out our most recent posts and browse the latest Just the Facts Topics for the latest.
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