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 kinds of vaccines that protect against Neisseria meningitidis available in the United States: meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune®), and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra® and Menveo®).
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Brief description
Risk factors, causes, transmission, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment - Questions and Answers
- Pictures of Meningococcal Disease and Bacteria
Warning: Some of these photos might be unsuitable for children. Viewing discretion is advised. - Meningitis: Help Prevent It
CDC Feature - Travelers' Health–Yellow Book
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.
The meningococcal disease can be prevented by the following vaccines: MCV4 and MPSV4.
- Who needs this vaccine
- Side Effects
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Questions and
Answers
- Video: Have You Heard About How To Prevent Meningococcal Disease?
This video, featuring a meningitis expert who is also a concerned mom, helps you learn more about meningococcal disease and how to prevent it. Released 8/11/2009, Run time: 4:42 -
Podcast: Meningitis Immunization for Adolescents
Adolescent vaccine recommendations for meningococcal disease/meningitis. Released 8/7/2008, Run time: 5:04
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 Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants Updated
Apr 2010
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Meningococcal
- Clinical
information Updated Jun 2009
Clinical Features, Etiologic Agent, Incidence, Complications, Transmission, Risk Groups, Surveillance, Trends, Challenges, etc. - Clinical Factsheet: Meningococcal Diseases and Meningococcal Vaccines
- Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants
Updated Apr 2010 - Proper storage and handling of vaccines UPDATED dec 2011
CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling guide includes shelf life, reconstitution instructions...
Vaccine Recommendations
- ACIP recommendations
Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease - Who and when to vaccinate
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations
[PDF 55KB, 1 page]
Posted Jul 2008 - Standing Orders
- Contraindications
- Package inserts
(Menactra, Menomune, Menveo and more package inserts...) Posted Feb 2010
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Related MMWRs, articles, and chapters Updated Jan 2011
- Pink Book's
chapter on Meningococcal Disease (Updated April 2011)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 12th Edition - Surveillance manual's chapter on Meningococcal Disease
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook, 4th edition, 2008 - Travelers' Health – Yellow Book
- Meningococcal Disease: Haiti Pre-decision Brief for Public Health Action
Posted Mar 2010 - Infection control guidelines
- Additional meningococcal disease info on other websites:
- Ask the
Experts
Immunization Action Coalition - National Meningitis Association
- Ask the
Experts
Provider Education
- CDC Commentary: Clarifying Meningococcal Booster Dose Recommendations
Amanda Cohn, MD, clarifies the meningococcal booster dose recommendations for adolescents. CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011 - CDC Commentary: Meningococcal Disease — Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management
Henry M. Wu, MD, comments on meningococcal disease, including signs, symptoms, and treatment, and reviews the latest vaccine recommendations. CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010 - Video: Meningococcal Disease: Prevention, Diagnosis, and Managemen
Released 3/22/2010, Run time: 5:25 Posted Mar 2010
CDC Expert Commentary in Partnership with Medscape (available to registered users of Medscape's Professional sites; registration is free [http://www.medscape.com] - Podcast: Meningitis Immunization for Adolescents
Adolescent vaccine recommendations for meningococcal disease/meningitis. Released 8/7/2008, Run time: 5:04
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Meningococcal Disease Case Histories
Stories of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases (Immunization Action Coalition) - Meningococcal:
Questions and Answers [PDF-96KB, 3 pages]
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) April 2007 - Enfermedad meningocócica - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen (Spanish materials)
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Content last reviewed on September 1, 2009
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases