Meningococcal Vaccine

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What is Meningococcal disease?

Anyone can get Meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshmen, particularly those who live in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting Meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal vaccine can prevent 2 of the 3 important types of Meningococcal diseases in older children an adults. Meningococcal vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease. But it does help to protect many people who might become sick if they don't get the vaccine.

Drugs such as penicillin can be used to treat Meningococcal infection. Still, about 1 out of every 10 people who get the disease dies from it, and many others are affected for life. This is why it is important that people with the highest risk for Meningococcal disease get the vaccine.

Who should get Meningococcal vaccine and when?

Meningococcal vaccine is not routinely recommended for most people. People who should get the vaccine include:

	U.S. Military recruits
	People who might be affected during an outbreak of certain types of Meningococcal disease.
	Anyone traveling to, or living in , a part of the world where Meningococcal disease is common, such as West Africa.
	Anyone who has a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removed.
	Anyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder).

The vaccine should also be considered for:

Some laboratory workers who are routinely exposed to the Meningococcal bacteria.

The vaccine may also be given to college students who choose to be vaccinated. College freshmen, especially those who live in dormitories, and their parents should discuss the risks and benefits of vaccination with their health-care providers.

Meningococcal vaccine is usually not recommended for children under two years of age. But under special circumstances it may be given to infants as young as 3 months (the vaccine does not work as well in very young children). Ask your health-care provider for details.

How many doses?

For people 2 years of age and over:

1 dose (sometimes an additional dose is recommended for people who continue to be at high risk. Ask your provider.)

For children 3 months to 2 years of age who need the vaccine:

2 doses, 3 months apart

Some people should not get Meningococcal vaccine or should wait.

People should not get Meningococcal vaccine if they have ever had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine.

People who are mildly ill at the time the shot is scheduled can still get Meningococcal vaccine. People with moderate or severe illnesses should usually wait until they recover. You provider can advise you.

Meningococcal vaccine may be given to pregnant woman.

What are the risks from Meningococcal vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of the Meningococcal vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Getting Meningococcal vaccine is much safer than getting the disease.

Mild Problems

	Some people who get Meningococcal vaccine have mild side effects, such as redness or pain where the shot was given. These symptoms usually last for 1-2 days.
	A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine develop a fever.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for any unusual condition, such as a severe allergic reaction, high fever or unusual behavior. If a serious allergic reaction occurred, it would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, weakness, hoarseness or wheezing, a fast heart beat, hives, dizziness, paleness, or swelling of the throat.

What should I do?

	Call a doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
	Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
	Ask your health-care provider to file a Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967.

For more information contact your local health department or physician.

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Shiawassee County Health Department

110 East Mack Street

Corunna, Michigan 48817

(989) 743-2355

1-800-859-4229