Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal meningitis is a rare but serious bacterial infection. It causes the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord to become inflamed. Meningococcal disease includes meningitis and septicemia (i.e., a blood infection). It takes close or lengthy contact (i.e., coughing or kissing) to spread these bacteria. The number of people who get meningococcal disease in the U.S. is now relatively low – about 1,000 – thanks to the vaccines that are available.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children should be vaccinated with the meningococcal conjugate vaccine when they are 11 or 12 years old – and they should get a booster shot when they turn 16 years old. Meanwhile, patients who are 16 to 23 years old should be vaccinated with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.
Meningococcal vaccines are also recommended for people who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, which includes those who…
– Live in close contact with other people (e.g., college dorms)
– Have certain medical conditions (e.g., HIV)
– Travel to a region that is in sub-Saharan Africa that is known as the “Meningitis Belt,” which stretches from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the East
Patients should talk to their physician if they have questions about meningococcal vaccines, which include…
– Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (Menactra® and Menveo®)
– Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)