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Medicine’s Akina Tamaki discusses concerns surrounding Bell’s palsy and COVID-19

Study: Chance of developing Bell’s palsy rises after COVID-19 infection

United Press International: Akina Tamaki, assistant professor at the School of Medicine, said that in the early period of the COVID-19 vaccine availability, there were several media reports of Bell’s palsy associated with vaccination [and] such concerns could erode vaccine confidence and exacerbate public hesitancy. However, she said: “Our data suggests that rates of Bell’s palsy are higher in patients who are positive for COVID-19 and this incidence exceeds the reported incidence … with the COVID-19 vaccine.”