Ischemic stroke after covid-19 mRNA vaccination (Pfizer): A case report

COVID-19 has been linked to more than expected cases of strokes especially in young population. Over a 42-day follow-up period, the BNT162b2 vaccination caused few side effects, majority of it were minors and few are dangerous. This is the second case report which suggest a relationship between COVID-19 mRNA BNT162b2 (Pfizer) vaccine and stroke. Our case is regarding 40-year Saudi women previously healthy, presented to ER with signs and symptoms of weakness in her right side with ipsilateral mild facial palsy and slurred speech ten days after receiving first dose BNT162b2 vaccine. Non-contrast CT scan of the brain demonstrated large fairly defined hypodense area involving the left fronto-temporal region; it exerts a mass effect in the form of effacement in the cortical sulci and mild compression of the ipsilateral ventricle with no shift of the midline structures. In our case, a link between the stroke and Pfizer vaccine is hard to exclude out. The above link has to be investigated further, and people who develop a stroke sooner after getting the first dose should be addressed carefully.