Mahkatop
Mahkatop — Renowned singer Celine Dion is battling a rare disease known as Stiff Person Syndrome (SPS), which limits her activities. Dion is currently undergoing treatment for her recovery. Recent social media speculation linking her condition to the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine is unfounded.
Some social media users have claimed that the symptoms experienced by the “My Heart Will Go On” singer were caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. For instance, one user on the platform X stated, “Celine Dion got a rare disease because of the COVID vaccine.”
However, the facts reveal that Celine Dion has been experiencing symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome since 2008, long before the COVID-19 vaccine was available. The claim connecting SPS with the vaccine surfaced after a Facebook user shared a screenshot regarding Pfizer vaccine side effects.
According to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), Stiff Person Syndrome affects one in a million people and causes painful muscle spasms triggered by events such as loud noises, light physical contact, or stress.
Both Pfizer and medical experts have stated there is no evidence linking the COVID-19 vaccine to Stiff Person Syndrome. Pfizer spokesperson Keanna Ghazvini told The Associated Press that ongoing reviews and analyses have not identified a causal relationship between the COVID-19 vaccine and Stiff Person Syndrome. Similarly, Scott Newsome, Director of the Stiff Person Syndrome Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital, stated, “There is no data or evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccine causes Stiff Person Syndrome.”
An AFP Fact Check report also found no public records linking Dion’s health issues to the COVID-19 vaccine. It is known that Dion has been dealing with medical problems before 2020 when the pandemic halted her world tour.
Guilhem Sole, Director of the Neuromuscular Disease Reference Center at Bordeaux Hospital, highlighted that Dion had been complaining of SPS symptoms long before the COVID-19 pandemic. Sole, a neuromuscular disorder specialist, also mentioned that there has been no significant increase in SPS cases. If the disease were caused by the vaccine, there would likely be an increase in cases.
In conclusion, the information linking Celine Dion’s illness to the COVID-19 vaccine is incorrect. The singer has been experiencing symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome for a long time, and there is no evidence to support the claim that the COVID-19 vaccine caused her illness.(*)
