Meningococcal Vaccine
En Español (Spanish Version)Neisseria meningitidis
is a bacteria that can cause infections in the body. One area this bacteria can infect is the meninges. The meninges is the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial infection of the meninges, called
bacterial meningitis
, can cause death within hours. Quick diagnosis and treatment are vital.
The disease is usually spread by direct contact with discharge from the mouth or throat of an infected person (eg, kissing). In general, it is not spread by casual contact.
The disease is most common in:
- Infants aged less than one year
- People with certain medical conditions (eg, lack of spleen)
- College freshmen who live in dorms—increased risk
About 2,600 people in the US develop the disease each year. Approximately 10%-15% of these people die. Another 11%-19% lose their arms or legs, become deaf, have nervous system problems, become
intellectual disability
, or suffer
seizures
or
strokes.
Symptoms of meningitis include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Very stiff, sore neck
- Red or purple skin rash
- Cyanosis (bluish skin color)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Photophobia (sensitivity to bright lights)
- Sleepiness
- Mental confusion
Symptoms in newborn and infants can be hard to distinguish. These may include:
- Inactivity
- Unexplained high fever or low body temperature
- Irritability
- Vomiting
- Jaundice
- Feeding poorly or refusing to eat
- Tautness or bulging of soft spots between skull bones
- Difficulty waking
When treatment is provided immediately, more than 90% of all people with the disease survive. Treatment may include:
- Antibiotics
- Corticosteroids
- Fluid replacement
There are two meningococcal vaccines available in the US:
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)—given as a shot into the muscle, preferred for people age 55 years or younger
- Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)—given as a shot under the skin, preferred for adults age 56 years or older
Both are made from parts of the meningococcal bacteria. Neither contains live bacteria.
The MCV4 vaccine is routinely given to children aged 11-12 years old with a booster dose given at age 16 years.
Teens aged 11-18 years old who have HIV infection need three doses—two doses given two months apart at 11 or 12 years old, then a booster dose at age 16.
The following groups of people need to be vaccinated because they have an increased risk of meningitis:
- College freshmen who live in dorms
- People who work in labs
- Military personnel
- People who travel to areas where meningococcal disease is common
- Those who have problems with spleen functioning or do not have a spleen
- Those who have an impaired immune system (eg, complement component deficiency)
- People who have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak
To be fully protected, young children aged 9-23 months and others who have certain conditions need to be given two doses.
People who are at high risk will need a booster dose every five years.
The meningococcal vaccine, like all vaccines, has the potential to cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of the vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small.
Mild problems associated with the vaccine include redness or pain at the injection site or a fever. Rarely, people who have received the MCV4 vaccine have developed a serious nervous system disorder called
Guillain-Barre syndrome
.
If you have the following conditions, you should not get the vaccine:
- Have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or its components
- Are moderately or severely ill—Wait until you recover before getting the vaccine.
- Have ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome—Talk to your doctor.
The vaccines may be given to pregnant women. However, the MCV4 vaccine has not been extensively studied in pregnant women. It should be used only if it is clearly needed.
Preventive antibiotics may be given to people in close contact with an infected person, such as:
- Healthcare workers
- Family members
Quitting smoking may also reduce the risk of meningococcal disease, especially for teens and young adults who live in settings like college dormitories.
In the event of an outbreak, close contacts of infected people and people at increased risk should get the vaccine. Antibiotics may be recommended for people in close contact.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Immunization Initiatives
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Baker CJ, Pickerling LK, Chilton L, et al. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Recommended adult immunization schedule: United States, 2011. Ann Intern Med. 2011;154(3):168-173.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years—United States, 2011. MMWR. 2011;60(5).
Deasy A, Read RC. Challenges for development of meningococcal vaccines in infants and children. Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011;10(3):335-343.
Honish L, Soskolne CL, Senthilselvan A, Houston S. Modifiable risk factors for
invasive meningococcal disease during an Edmonton, Alberta outbreak, 1999-2002.
Can J Public Health. 2008;99(1):46-51.
Huttunen R, Heikkinen T, Syrjänen J. Smoking and the outcome of infection. J
Intern Med. 2011;269(3):258-269.
Vaccine information statements. Immunization Action Coalition website. Available at:
http://www.immunize.org/vis/
. Accessed February 6, 2007.
10/6/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php
: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for revaccination of persons at prolonged increased risk for meningococcal disease.
MMWR
.
2009;58(37):1042-1043. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5837a4.htm
.
Published September 25, 2009. Accessed October 2, 2009.
12/16/2011 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for use of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D) among children aged 9 through 23 months at increased risk for invasive meningococcal disease.
MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(40):1391-1392.
Last Reviewed November 2011