Meningitis Update

MENINGITIS CAN PERMANENTLY DISABLE OR KILL CHILDREN AND ADULTS OF ALL AGES.

In Feb 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended that ALL children ages 11-18 and ALL college freshmen should receive MENACTRA, the new meningitis/meningococcal vaccine. Menactra is now available here for all children and adults 11-55 years of age.

Meningitis Vaccine: What you need to know

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by a virus or several types of bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the United States. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings. Meningococcal disease can also infect the bloodstream very quickly and death can occur within 12 hours of onset of symptoms.

Symptoms of meningitis are often mistaken for the flu.

Meningococcal infection can be caused by kissing, sharing cigarettes, food, beverages, eating utensils and lip-gloss or close contact (approximately 4 hrs) with an infected person

Poor nutrition, lack of sleep, smoking and alcohol consumption cause your immune system to be weakened.

Those who survive blood infection usually have permanent disabilities such as seizures, loss of arms and/or legs, kidney disease, deafness and/ or mental retardation.

Who should get the MENACTRA Vaccination?

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

Children ages 11-18

All college freshmen

Children and adults without a spleen

Those with HIV/AIDS, or other immune disorders

Travelers to certain countries (see Travel Vaccines for requirements & recommendations.

U.S. Military recruits

Those with HIV/AIDS, other immune disorders

People who might be affected during an outbreak of certain types of meningococcal disease.

Visit the Menactra website to learn more about the vaccination and meningitis.