CompletedNot Applicable

Safety Study of GBS Following Menactra Meningococcal Vaccination

United States6,000,000 participantsStarted 2005-03

Plain-language summary

We are conducting a large, record-based study to assess the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a serious demyelinating disease, following immunization with the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra) that is currently recommended for all adolescents. The study was requested by CDC and FDA because of an unexpected number of case reports to the CDC's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The study protocol was designed by the investigators, with input from FDA, CDC, and the vaccine's manufacturer, Sanofi-Pasteur. An external advisory board that includes CDC representation, provides input regarding important decisions. The manufacturer is not participating in the conduct of the study and has no control over the analysis or dissemination of results. The study is derived from five large US health plans with a total membership of approximately 50 million over the study time period. America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) serves as liaison between the health plans and the Coordinating Center at the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and is the contracting organization with the health plans.

Who can participate

Age range

11 Years – 21 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Exclusion criteria

None

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), verified through neurologist review of medical records

Timeframe: within 42 days following vaccination

Trial details

NCT IDNCT00575653

SponsorHarvard Pilgrim Health Care

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2009-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Guillain-Barre Syndrome trials

Plain-language summary