Bell’s palsy after inactivated COVID-19 vaccination in a patient with history of recurrent Bell’s palsy: A case report

BACKGROUND With rapid and extensive administration of inactivated coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)vaccine to the general population in China,it is crucial for clinicians to recognize neurological complications or other side effects associated with COVID-19 vaccination.CASE SUMMARY Here we report the first case of Bell’s palsy after the first dose of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine in China.The patient was a 36-year-old woman with a past history of Bell’s palsy.Two days after receiving the first dose of the Sinovac Life Sciences inactivated COVID-19 vaccine,the patient developed right-side Bell’s palsy and binoculus keratoconjunctivitis.Prednisone,artificial tears and fluorometholone eye drops were applied.The patient’s symptoms began to improve by day 7 and resolved by day 54.CONCLUSION As mRNA COVID-19 vaccine trials reported cases of Bell’s palsy as adverse events,we should pay attention to the occurrence of Bell’s palsy after inactivated COVID-19 vaccination.A history of Bell’s palsy,rapid increase of immunoglobulin M and immunoglobin G-specific antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may be risk factors for Bell‘s palsy after COVID-19 vaccination.