Meningococcal Meningitis Booster Vaccination

They’ll Always Be Your Babies.

Make Sure Your Teen Gets a Second Shot to Help Prevent Meningitis.1

 
 
 
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Meningococcal meningitis is rare, but when it strikes, it can change a life in less than 24 hours.2-6 Sadly our teenagers are at increased risk for the disease and its devastating consequences.3,7,8

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

Of the 800 to 1200 people who get meningococcal disease in the US each year, 10% to 15% will die.7,9-11

Millions of teens are potentially under-protected.12-14 That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a meningitis booster shot at ages 16 to 18 years.1 Teenagers and young adults are at greater risk of getting meningococcal disease (meningitis) as their immunity from the initial vaccination wanes.12 Even if your teen already received a meningitis shot at age 11 and 12 years, he or she still needs a second vaccination as early as 16 years of age.1

Learn about meningitis vaccination schedule

Next: Speak Up About Meningitis

Meningitis Vaccination

Related Links

Speak Up About Meningitis

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0 through 18 years and adults aged 19 years and older—United States, 2013. MMWR.
  2. Apicella MA. Neisseria meningitidis. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett’s Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
  3. Erickson LJ, De Wals P, McMahon J, Heim S. Complications of meningococcal disease in college students. Clin Infect Dis.
  4. Stephens DS, Greenwood B, Brandtzaeg P. Epidemic meningitis, meningococcaemia, and Neisseria meningitidis. Lancet. 2007;369(9580):2196-2210.
  5. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet.
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). Meningococcal Meningitis. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/. Accessed August 28, 2014.
  7. Atkinson W, Wolfe S, Hamborsky J, McIntyre L, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (The Pink Book). 12th ed. Washington, DC: Public Health Foundation; 2011.
  8. Borg J, Christie D, Coen PG, Booy R, Viner RM. Outcomes of meningococcal disease in adolescence: prospective, matched-cohort study. Pediatrics. 2009;123(3):e502-e509.
  9. CDC. Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease. Recommendations of the ACIP. MMWR. 2013;62(2):1-32.
  10. CDC. Notifiable diseases and mortality tables [provisional]—week ending December 29, 2012. MMWR. 2013;61(51 & 52):ND-719–ND-732.
  11. Thigpen MC, Whitney CG, Messonnier NE, et al; Emerging Infections Programs Network. Bacterial meningitis in the United States, 1998-2007. N Engl J Med. 2011;364(21):2016-2025.
  12. CDC. Updated Recommendations for Use of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccines — ACIP, 2010. MMWR. 2011;60(3):72-76.
  13. CDC. National, Regional, State, and Selected Local Area Vaccination Coverage Among Adolescents Aged 13-17 Years — United States, 2013. MMWR. 2014;63(29):625–633.
  14. United States Census Bureau. Age and Sex Composition: 2010. Washington, DC. US Department of Commerce; 2011.