Overview
Although uncommon, meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Historically in the US, serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B have been the cause of most cases of meningococcal disease.1,2 Meningococcal disease spreads through close contact such as coughing, kissing, sneezing, sharing eating utensils, or living in close quarters.2-4 Signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease may include sudden onset of high fever, neck stiffness, nausea, and vomiting.2 There are 2 different types of vaccines to help prevent meningococcal disease—one for MenACWY and one for MenB.5
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- Sudden onset of:
- High fever
- Headache
- Neck stiffness
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Petechial or purpuric rash
Persons 10 years of age or older should receive a MenB vaccination
- Have certain persistent complement component deficiencies
- Are taking a complement inhibitor, including eculizumab or ravulizumab
- Have anatomic or functional asplenia, including sickle cell disease
- Are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis
- Are part of a population identified to be at increased risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak
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- Sudden onset of:
- High fever
- Neck stiffness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Petechial or purpuric rash
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a single dose of MenACWY at age 11 or 12 years followed by a booster dose administered at age 16 years.1,15
- Anatomic or functional asplenia, including sickle cell disease
- HIV infection
- Certain persistent complement component deficiencies
- Persons taking complement inhibitors, including eculizumab or ravulizumab
- Travel in countries with hyperendemic or epidemic meningococcal disease
- First-year college students who live in residential housing (if not previously vaccinated at age 16 years or older)
- US military recruits
- Microbiologists routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis
- Persons exposed during an outbreak of meningococcal disease due to a vaccine-preventable serogroup
Some people need multiple doses for adequate protection.
Please refer to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Schedule for the complete MenACWY vaccination recommendation.
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Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
Many patients may not know that there are vaccines recommended for them to help protect against certain diseases. You can help educate patients about these vaccine-preventable diseases, and explain why it’s important for them to be up to date on their vaccinations.
References: 1. Pelton S. Meningococcal disease awareness: clinical and epidemiological factors affecting prevention and management in adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46:S9-S15. 2. McNamara LA, Blain A. Meningococcal disease. In: Roush SW, Baldy LM, Kirkconnell Hall MA, eds. Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt08-mening.html 3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: causes and spread to others. Reviewed May 31, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/causes-transmission.html 4. Mayo Clinic. Meningitis. Updated October 1, 2020. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal vaccination for adolescents: information for healthcare professionals. Reviewed July 26, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/hcp/adolescent-vaccine.html 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. Hall E., Wodi A.P., Hamborsky J., et al., eds. 14th ed. Washington, D.C. Public Health Foundation, 2021. 7. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397-403. 8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: technical and clinical information. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/clinical-info.html 9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Enhanced Meningococcal Disease Surveillance Reports, 2015-2019. Accessed April 20, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/surveillance/index.html 10. Pingali C, Yankey D, Elam-Evans LD, et al. National, regional, state, and selected local area vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13-17 years—United States, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70:1183-1190. 11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal vaccination: what everyone should know. Reviewed July 26, 2019. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/public/index.html 12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2022. Reviewed February 17, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf 13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP shared clinical decision-making recommendations: frequently asked questions. Revised February 10, 2020. Accessed January 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/acip-scdm-faqs.html#how-differ 14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended adult immunization schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2022. Reviewed February 17, 2022. Accessed February 18, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf 15. Mbaeyi SA, Bozio CH, Duffy J, et al. Meningococcal vaccination: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020;69(9);1-41.