Facts About Meningococcal Disease
One out of ten patients infected will die, some in as few as 24 to 48 hours.1
Surviving patients may face long-term complications such as hearing loss, brain damage, limb loss, kidney failure, and seizures.4,5
Most meningococcal disease is attributed to serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y.2
Meningococcal Vaccination Recommendations From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Meningococcal ACWY:
- Persons 11 years of age and older, with a booster at 16 years of age; as young as 2 months of age for certain groups at increased risk6
Meningococcal B:
- Vaccination recommended for certain groups at increased risk in individuals 10 years of age and older6
- In individuals not at increased risk, MenB series for persons 16 to 23 years of age (preferably 16 to 18 years of age) on the basis of shared clinical decision-making7
Meningococcal Disease Downloadable Resources
References
- Pelton SI. Meningococcal disease awareness: clinical and epidemiological factors affecting prevention and management in adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46:S9-S15.
- 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; 2020. Reviewed January 5, 2022. Accessed January 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/surv-manual/chpt08-mening.html
- Meningococcal disease symptoms and complications. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 12, 2024. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/symptoms/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/symptoms.html
- Meningitis. Mayo Clinic. Updated October 4, 2023. Accessed January 30, 2024. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350508
- Clinical overview of meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed February 1, 2024. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/clinical-info.html
- Child and adolescent immunization schedule by age (addendum updated June 27, 2024): recommendations for ages 18 years or younger, United States, 2024. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed November 16, 2024. Accessed August 16, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/child-adolescent-age.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/child-adolescent.html
- Mbaeyi SA, Bozio CH, Duffy J, et al. Meningococcal Vaccination: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2020. MMWR. 2020;69(No. RR-9):1-41. Reviewed September 24, 2020. Accessed January 30, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/rr/rr6909a1.htm?s_cid=rr6909a1_w
