January 10, 2017
Meningococcal vaccines are recommended by public health officials and, in some states, are being mandated for all U.S. 11- and 12-year-olds, despite rates of meningococcal disease being at historic lows (the declines occurred prior to the routine use of vaccines). New research has now linked this vaccination to a nearly tripled risk of Bell’s palsy, particularly when given in combination with another vaccine.