Diseases > Meningitis
> Cochlear Implants
Cochlear
Implants and Meningitis Vaccination
for
the General Public
July 30, 2003
(originally published October
2002)
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What are the CDC and other
government agencies doing about meningitis
in persons with cochlear implants?
CDC, state health departments, and the FDA
have completed an investigation to learn
about the association between cochlear implants
and meningitis. This public health response
was carried out very quickly to ensure that
this concern was addressed promptly.
To
learn more about the findings of this investigation,
visit "The Early Hearing Detection
and Intervention Program" (EHDI) web
page about Cochlear Implants and Meningitis.
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/ehdi/cochlear/)
The
results of this rapid public health investigation
did not tell us whether a child with hearing
loss who gets a cochlear implant has a
higher chance of getting meningitis than
a child with hearing loss who does not
get a cochlear implant. To answer that
question, CDC is working with a Danish
university to conduct another study.
Top
- Should
persons with cochlear implants receive the
Hib vaccine?
Children
less than aged 5 years should receive the
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
vaccine as a routine protection, according
to the 2003
Childhood Immunization Schedule. Most
children born after 1990 received Hib vaccine
as infants.
For
those age 5 years and older, Hib vaccine
is not routinely recommended because most
older children and adults are already immune
to Hib, even if they have not received the
Hib vaccine. Available information does not
suggest children or adults of age 5 or older
with cochlear implants need Hib vaccination.
However, Hib vaccine can be given to older
children and adults who have never received
it. For information about Hib vaccine, see
the convenient vaccine chart at http://www.cdc.gov/nip/vaccine/vac-chart-public.htm
Top
- Should
persons with cochlear implants receive the
meningitis (meningococcal) vaccine sometimes
recommended for college students?
The meningococcal vaccine given to many college
students protects against meningitis caused
by some types of Neisseria meningitidis,
also called meningococcus. There is no information
to suggest that persons with cochlear implants
are at increased risk for meningococcal meningitis.
Therefore, meningococcal vaccine is not routinely
recommended for persons with cochlear implants,
unless they have other reasons to get this
vaccine.
Top
- What
should children with cochlear implants who
missed doses of the pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine do?
The
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7)
shortage has ended and all communities
should have vaccine available. Children
aged less than 5 years with cochlear implants
who missed doses of pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine during the shortage should receive
additional doses according to the catch-up
schedule for children at increased
risk. The recommended PCV-7 regimens are
available on a chart
in this Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR) article http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5219a6.htm
Top
- When
should people planning to receive a cochlear
implant be vaccinated against meningitis?
To provide maximum protection during and
after surgery, persons scheduled to receive
cochlear implants should make sure two or
more weeks before surgery, they are up-to-date,
for their age, on pneumococcal vaccinations
recommended for people at increased risk.
In addition, parents of children aged <5
years should also be sure their child has
received the right number of Hib doses two
or more weeks before surgery. Persons already
up to date on these vaccines do not need
extra doses before surgery. Meningococcal
vaccine is usually not needed before or after
cochlear implant surgery.
Top
- Is
hearing loss a reason to receive meningitis
vaccines?
Currently,
there are no special immunization recommendations
for persons with hearing loss unless they
have (or are planning to receive) a cochlear
implant or have other risks factors for meningitis.
Persons with hearing loss should receive
the vaccines that are recommended for persons
without hearing loss, based on age and other
health conditions. However, certain people
with hearing loss may have a higher risk
of meningitis than people without hearing
loss. This higher risk may occur even if
they do not have a cochlear implant. For
example, some people with hearing loss were
made deaf by a past case of meningitis, and
these people may be especially prone to meningitis.
Also, some persons with hearing loss may
be more likely to get meningitis because
part of the inner ear is not formed correctly.
Persons with hearing loss who are known to
have an ear condition that puts them at risk
for meningitis should get the pneumococcal
vaccines for high risk groups. People with
hearing loss should discuss questions about
possible ear abnormalities with an ear, nose,
and throat (ENT) doctor.
The
recent cochlear
implant and meningitis investigation
showed that children with cochlear implants
were more likely to get bacterial meningitis
than children in the general population.
More research is needed to better understand
if persons with hearing loss without cochlear
implants are at greater risk for meningitis.
CDC is working with a Danish university
to study this issue further.
Top
- Should
people with cochlear implants who have had
bacterial meningitis in the past be vaccinated
against meningitis?
A
past case of meningitis caused by pneumococcal
bacteria does not provide enough protection
against getting this form of meningitis again
and age-specific vaccination is indicated.
Children
who had Hib meningitis when they were under
2 years of age may need additional doses
of Hib, depending on their current age.
Children who are aged 2 years of older
when they develop Hib meningitis are considered
immune to Hib and do not need more Hib
vaccinations.
Top
- What
side effects occur with vaccines that prevent
meningitis?
The
vaccines used to protect against meningitis
are safe. When side effects occur, they are
usually mild. Local reactions, such as a
sore arm at the site of the injection, are
fairly common with some of the vaccines.
Mild fever may also occur. More information
about the side effects of the meningitis
vaccines can be found on the vaccine
side effects web page.
Top
-
How
have the immunization recommendation for
persons with cochlear implants recently
changed?
Before
the cochlear
implant and meningitis investigation
started, there were no special immunization
recommendations for persons with cochlear
implants. Early in the investigation, in
October 2002, it was recognized that people
with cochlear implants may be at increased
risk for bacterial meningitis – especially
pneumococcal meningitis. Since most pneumococcal
meningitis is vaccine-preventable, CDC
recommended people with cochlear implants
receive age-specific pneumococcal vaccination
according to the high-risk schedules. These
recommendations are supported by the findings
of this investigation and were adopted
by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices (ACIP) in June 2003.
- Can
vaccines prevent all meningitis in persons
with cochlear implants?
Vaccines
can't prevent all meningitis in persons with
cochlear implants. Although vaccines against
meningitis are highly effective, we don't
have vaccines for all bacteria that cause
meningitis. Pneumococcal vaccines protect
against the most common strains but not against
all strains. Also, people with immune system
problems may respond poorly to vaccines.
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