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 since this was originally posted. Browse the latest information posted in Just the Facts Topics.
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