Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Meningococcal Vaccination
Pronounced
(muh-nin-jo-cok-ul)
Meningococcal vaccines protect against most types of meningococcal disease, although they do not prevent all cases. There are two vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the United States: meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune®), and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra®).
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Questions and Answers
- Pictures of Meningococcal
Warning: Some of these photos might be unsuitable for children. Viewing discretion is advised. - Travelers
information
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
The meningococcal disease can be prevented by the following vaccines: MCV4 and MPSV4.
- As an infant/child, pre-teen/adolesent,
or adult do I need this vaccine?
(describes when and which vaccine you should receive) - Side Effects
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Questions and Answers (exit)
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) Among Persons who Received Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Who should not be vaccinated with Meningococcal vaccine?
- Pregnancy guidelines
- Use of Meningitis Vaccine in Persons with Cochlear Implants
For Health Professionals
Clinical
- Technical
information
Clinical Features, Etiologic Agent, Incidence, Complications, Transmission, Risk Groups, Surveillance, Trends, Challenges, etc. - Clincal Factsheet: Meningococcal Diseases and Meningococcal Vaccines
- Use of Meningitis Vaccine in Persons with Cochlear Implants
- Proper handling of MCV4 and MPSV4 vaccine
Recommendations
- ACIP recommendations
Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease - Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations
(exit) July 2008 - Standing Orders (exit)
- Contraindications
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Related MMWR articles, links, and references
- More MMWRs on Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4)
- Pink Book's
chapter on Meningococcal
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Meningococcal updated August 2008
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Travelers Health: Yellow Book
- Infection control guidelines
- Additional meningococcal disease info on other websites:
- Ask the
Experts (exit)
CDC experts (medial officers, medical epidemiologists, etc.) - National Meningitis Association (exit)
- Ask the
Experts (exit)
Provider Education
- Clinical
education slide set
from the "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - Podcasts on general immunization topics
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Stories of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases (exit)
- Meningococcal:
Questions and Answers (exit)
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) Dated 4/07
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Content last reviewed on June 1, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases