FDA, CDC Issue Alert on Meningococcal Vaccine

Menactra may be linked to five cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome

TUESDAY, Oct. 4 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert regarding the Menactra meningococcal vaccine after five cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) occurred in vaccinated patients.

The FDA and CDC are asking possible cases of GBS to be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). There are no recommendations for changes in vaccination practices. "It is not known yet whether these cases were caused by the vaccine or are coincidental," according to the FDA.

The cases were reported in patients aged 17 and 18 living in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The patients developed weakness or abnormal sensations in the arms or legs two to four weeks after vaccination with Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine A, C, Y and W135.

More Information -- FDA
More Information -- VAERS

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