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 vaccines against Neisseria meningitidis available in the United States: meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune®), and meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra®).
For Health Professionals:
What You Should Know
- Brief description Updated June 2009
Risk factors, causes, transmission, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment - Questions and Answers Updated June 2009
- Pictures of Meningococcal Disease and Bacteria Updated June 2009
Warning: Some of these photos might be unsuitable for children. Viewing discretion is advised. - 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.
- As an infant/child, pre-teen/adolescent,
or adult do I need this vaccine?
(Describes when and which vaccine you should receive) - 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. Rel. 8/11/2009 Run time: 4:42 -
Podcast: Meningitis Immunization for Adolescents Rel. 8/7/2008, Run time: 5:04
Adolescent vaccine recommendations for meningococcal disease/meningitis
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 Meningitis Vaccine in Persons with Cochlear Implants
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Meningococcal
- Clinical
information Updated June 2009
Clinical Features, Etiologic Agent, Incidence, Complications, Transmission, Risk Groups, Surveillance, Trends, Challenges, etc. - Clinical Factsheet: Meningococcal Diseases and Meningococcal Vaccines
- Use of Meningitis Vaccine in Persons with Cochlear Implants
- Proper handling of MCV4 and MPSV4 vaccine
Vaccine Recommendations
- ACIP recommendations
Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease - ACIP Revised Recommendations for Booster Doses of Meningococcal Vaccine
NEW Oct 2009 - Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations
[PDF 55KB] July 2008 - Standing Orders
- Contraindications
- Package inserts
(Menactra, Menomune, and more package inserts...) NEW Feb 2010
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Related MMWR articles, links, and references Updated June 2009
- More MMWRs on Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4)
- Pink Book's
chapter on Meningococcal Disease [PDF 711KB] (compliant)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Meningococcal Disease
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook, 4th edition, 2008 - Travelers' Health – Yellow Book
- Infection control guidelines
- Additional meningococcal disease info on other websites:
- Ask the
Experts
Immunization Action Coalition - National Meningitis Association
- Ask the
Experts
Provider Education
- 2009 Clinical education slide set
[PDF 300KB] May 2009
from the 11th edition "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - Podcast: Meningitis Immunization for Adolescents Rel. 8/7/2008, Run time: 5:04
Adolescent vaccine recommendations for meningococcal disease/meningitis
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]
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
