Meningococcal Vaccination

Meningococcal vaccines protect against most types of meningococcal disease, but 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 more information on meningococcal vaccines, visit the Meningococcal Vaccine site or Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

For Those Getting Vaccinated

Who does CDC recommend get the vaccine?

Children: MCV4 is recommended for certain high-risk children from ages 2 through 10.
Pre-teens/Adolescents: MCV4 is routinely recommended for all 11 through 18 year olds. If your child did not get this vaccine at the 11- or 12-year-old check-up, make an appointment for him or her to get it now.
Adults: Either MPSV4 vaccine or MCV4 vaccine is recommended for adults if you
- Are a college freshman living in a dormitory
- Are a military recruit
- Have a damaged spleen or your spleen has been removed
- Have terminal complement deficiency
- Are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis (the causal pathogen)
- Are traveling to or residing in countries in which the disease is common

More information:

Meningococcal Vaccines "What You Need To Know"
This one-page CDC vaccine information statement explains who should get meningococcal vaccine and when.
Meningococcal Vaccine Basics
Offers comprehensive offers information about meningococcal vaccines and other educational tools.
Vaccine Safety
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

Clinical Vaccine Resources for Healthcare Professionals

Resources for healthcare professionals can be found on the clinical information page.

Vaccination Coverage

The National Immunization Survey (NIS) is a large, on-going survey of immunization coverage among U.S. pre-school children (19 - 35 months of age). In conjunction with the NIS, CDC also conducts the NIS-Teen (13 to 17 years of age) and the NIS-Adult.

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