Merdena Montgomery v. HHS - Tdap, Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) (2019)

Merdena Montgomery received Tdap and HPV vaccinations on January 28, 2013. Approximately ten days later, she began experiencing numbness and an unsteady gait, which progressed over the following weeks.

She was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and B12 deficiency, and was hospitalized for treatment with IVIG. The parties disputed the GBS diagnosis, with the respondent's expert suggesting hypothyroidism and B12 deficiency as alternative diagnoses.

Ms. Montgomery alleged that the Tdap and HPV vaccines caused her GBS.

She presented expert testimony suggesting a molecular mimicry theory linking the HPV vaccine to GBS and an alum adjuvant theory linking both vaccines to GBS. The respondent presented expert testimony refuting these theories and citing epidemiological studies that did not support a link between the HPV vaccine and GBS.

The court found that Ms. Montgomery failed to establish a persuasive medical theory linking the vaccines to GBS, and therefore denied compensation.

The case was filed on September 17, 2015, and the decision denying compensation was issued on June 18, 2019.