Why do some people think that Justin Bieber’s facial paralysis, which he says was caused by Ramsay Hunt syndrome, is a COVID vaccine injury?
The usual suspects…
Justin Bieber Has Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, and No, It is Not a COVID Vaccine Injury…
So what is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
“Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by paralysis of the facial nerve (facial palsy) and a rash affecting the ear or mouth. Ear abnormalities such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and hearing loss may also be present. Ramsay Hunt syndrome is caused by the varicella zoster virus (VZV), the same virus that causes chickenpox in children and shingles (herpes zoster) in adults. In cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, previously inactive (dormant) varicella-zoster virus is reactivated and spreads to affect the facial nerve.”
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – Rare Disease Datatbase
Basically it is kind of like Bell’s palsy with a rash (and some other symptoms)…
And since it is caused by a reactivation of the chicken pox virus, like shingles, it can occur in anyone who has had chicken pox. Also like shingles, it can (more rarely) occur in anyone who has had a chicken pox vaccine.
Neither are considered to be an adverse vaccine to the COVID vaccine, although many things, including stress, can trigger the chicken pox virus to become reactivated.
Could someone develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome after getting a COVID vaccine?
In theory sure, but if they were, we would likely also be seeing many more cases of shingles, as they are both linked to reactivation of latent chicken pox virus infections.
And we aren’t…
“According to one estimate, 5 out of every 100,000 people develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome each year in the United States.”
Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – Rare Disease Datatbase
Also, if you consider that over 250 million people in the United States have received a COVID vaccine, then knowing the incidence of Ramsay Hunt syndrome, you will understand that some of those who develop symptoms will have coincidentally have just gotten their vaccine.
That explains the few case reports of people developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome shortly after being vaccinated.
Is that what happened to Justin Bieber?
Although some folks like Steve Kirsch are “99% certain” that Justin Bieber’s paralysis is a vaccine injury, none of us even know if he is vaccinated!
What else do these folks leave out?
They don’t mention that a COVID infection itself can cause Bell’s palsy!
Nor do they mention that there are case reports of people developing Ramsay Hunt syndrome when they have COVID!
So by scaring people away from getting vaccinated and protected, their misinformation is actually increasing the risk that more people develop facial paralysis!
What to Know About Justin Bieber and Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
There is no evidence that Justin Bieber developed Ramsay Hunt syndrome after getting a COVID vaccine, or just as importantly, that COVID vaccines are even associated with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.
More on Ramsay Hunt Syndrome
- Does the Chicken Pox Vaccine Protect You from Shingles?
- Can You Still Get Shingles After Having the Chicken Pox Vaccine?
- Is the Chicken Pox Vaccine Creating a Shingles Epidemic?
- Do Vaccines Cause Bell’s Palsy?
- COVID-19 Vaccines Are Not Associated With Bell’s Palsy
- COVID-19 Vaccination Questions and Answers
- The Truth About COVID-19 Vaccines
- Ramsay Hunt Syndrome – Rare Disease Datatbase
- What is Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
- Who gets Ramsay Hunt syndrome?
- Why is Ramsay Hunt Syndrome Often Misdiagnosed?
- Why Steve Kirsch Is 100% Wrong On Justin Bieber’s Paralysis!
- CDC – COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States
- Ramsay Hunt syndrome in a young COVID-19 patient
- Justin Bieber reveals facial paralysis after shows cancelled
- Shingles-monkeypox claim misleads with false flu-COVID-19 theory
- Despite All the Talk, Covid Vaccination Does Not Infect People With Shingles
- Antivaxxers misuse the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database to demonize COVID-19 vaccines
- Substack: Where quacks and antivaxxers all go now
- As 2021 shambles to a close, the misuse of VAERS by antivaxxers continues apace
- Increased risk of shingles after COVID-19 — time to get both vaccines
Last Updated on June 12, 2022