GBS from Meningitis Vaccine?

GBS from Meningitis Vaccine?
Five cases of rare neurological disorders in teenagers have been reported and all the five victims have developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) two to four weeks after they received the meningitis vaccine Menactra manufactured by Sanofi-Aventis. Government sources have said this, in an announcement made on Friday and they also added that they are treating the matter with utmost seriousness.

GBS mainly weakens the legs and arms and sometimes it may even lead to paralysis. The patients affected by this are all 17-18 year olds in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey who felt unusual sensations in their hands and legs a couple of weeks after the vaccination. The college students, residing in dormitories, who are mainly the recipients of this vaccine, are also the biggest threat for its quick spread. Moreover, almost 3000 cases of meningococcal meningitis are reported every year and 300 die of this disease while many of the survivors suffer from serious mental disabilities and hearing loss.

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Menactra is a new vaccine which came into the market in last January and protects against this bacterial meningitis. The older vaccine, which is also available, does not provide as much protection as the new one and so the latter has been accepted whole-heartedly by the people for its usefulness. Although it has not been sold outside United States, already more than 2.5 million doses of the vaccine have been distributed throughout the country and a survey made on a sample of 7000 Menactra recipients showed no GBS cases. "It is important to keep in mind that Menactra vaccine offers valuable protection against the severe health consequences caused by meningococcal disease," the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have advised people not to panic and issued a joint press release saying "It is not known yet whether these cases were caused by the vaccine or are coincidental." The FDA has further gone on to add "The rate of GBS based on the number of cases reported following administration of Menactra is similar to what might have been expected to occur by coincidence, that is, even without vaccination. However, the timing of the events is of concern."