MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE

ACIP simplifies Meningitis vaccine for all adolescents 11-18 years of age. link July 12, 2007
Update on Guillain Barre Syndrome following meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra): No change in recommendations for use of the vaccine
The FDA and CDC have updated their information on Guillain Barre Syndrom (GBS) after meningococcal conjugate vaccine [link to MMWR]. GBS is a neurological disorder associated with a progressive paralysis over several days to weeks. Most people with GBS recover over a period of many weeks of months. The evidence generated by CDC and FDA suggests that there could be an increased risk of GBS of about one in one million following Menactrra in adolescents, but additional studies are needed to clearly answer this question.
Since the known risk of severe complications from meningococcal infections is high in this age group, the CDC has not altered the recommendations for routine use for adolescents, college freshmen living in dorms and others at high risk for the disease.
CDC has provided detailed information (11-01-06)
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Among Recipients of Menactra^®Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine --- United States, June--July 2005. MMWR 2005;54(Dispatch);1-3. - Descriptions and details about the 5 cases of GBS after receipt of meningococcal vaccine. (10- 2005)
FDA/CDC issue an alert on meningococcal vaccine following 5 reported cases of Guillain Barre Syndrom after receipt of Menactra. (10-2005)

This page was last updated on January 23, 2008