Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Meningococcal Disease In-Short
Description
A severe bacterial infection that can cause meningitis, bloodstream infection, and other localized infections. Although the disease is not common in the United States, in those who get it, symptoms develop and progress rapidly even leading to death in 24-48 hours.
Symptoms
Meningitis is characterized by fever, headache, and stiff neck. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and mental status changes.
Meningococcal bacteremia is a bloodstream infection characterized by sudden onset of fever and in severe cases a petechial rash (small red or purple spots on the skin) or purpuric rash (red or purple discolorations on the skin).
Complications
Meningitis can lead to loss of a limb, permanent neurologic impairment, or death.
Meningococcal bacteremia can result in joint infection, pneumonia, organ system failure, shock, and death.
Transmission
Spread by direct contact with large droplet respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing, kissing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation). Close household contacts of persons with meningococcal disease are at greatly increased risk of infection. This disease develops and progresses rapidly.
Vaccine
There are two meningococcal vaccines available in the U.S.:
- Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)
MCV4 is the preferred vaccine for people ages 2 through 55, but MPSV4 can be used when MCV4 is not available.
Who Needs to be Vaccinated?
Does my infant need this vaccine?
The meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is recommended for certain high risk children from ages 2 through 10. Based on new data, and on the vaccine's recent approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on October 23rd to recommend use of the MCV4 vaccine instead of the MPSV4 vaccine. The high risk children for whom this vaccine is recommended include children who travel to, and United States citizens who reside in, countries where meningitis is hyperendemic or epidemic, persons with terminal complement deficiency (an immune system disorder), and persons with a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removed.
For additional details, consult the Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement 
(2 pages) (text-only)
and the Childhood Immunization Schedule.
Does my pre-teen or adolescent need it?
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds. If your child did not get this vaccine at their 11 or 12 year old check-up, make an appointment for him or her to get it now.
For additional details, consult the Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement (2 pages) (text-only) and the adolescent immunization schedule.
As an adult, do I need it?
See also: adult immunization schedule
You should get either the MPSV4 vaccine or the MCV4 vaccine if:
- You are a college freshmen living in a dormitory
- You are a military recruit
- You have a damaged spleen or your spleen has been removed
- You have terminal complement deficiency
- You are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis (the causal pathogen)
- You are traveling or residing in countries in which the disease is common.
For additional details, consult the Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement (2 pages) (text-only) and the Adult Immunization Schedule.
Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations (exit) NEw july 28
Return to main Meningococcal Vaccination page
Content last reviewed on February 14, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases