Meningitis Vaccine Recommendation for Adolescents

     The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends routine vaccinations for certain age groups at highest risk for the meningococcal disease.  The guidelines call for the newly licensed meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) to be given to young adolescents age 11-12 years old, previously unvaccinated adolescents at high school entry, and college freshmen living in dormitories.

“The new vaccine offers longer protection than previous meningococcal vaccines,” said Dr. Bruce Thompson at the Children’s Clinic of SWLA.  “A single shot will protect adolescents through high school and college.  We encourage these higher risk groups to take the opportunity to get vaccinated to help protect them from this serious disease.”

Meningococcal disease is now the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. toddlers, adolescents and young adults. It strikes up to 3000 Americans, killing 300 people every year.  Ten percent of the people with meningococcal disease die, and among the survivors, up to 15 percent may suffer long-term permanent disabilities including hearing loss, limb amputation or brain damage.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting and exhaustion, and a rash may appear.  The meningococcal infections can be treated with drugs such as penicillin; however, it is particularly dangerous because it progresses rapidly and can kill within hours.

Thompson recommends that young adolescents see their pediatrician at age 11-12 years for a routine preventive check up, at which time the MCV4 along with other appropriate immunizations and preventive services should be provided. “Teenagers entering high school should also receive the new vaccine as an effective strategy to reduce the risk of meningococcal disease into their young adult years,” said Thompson.

Due to the high incidence of the disease among college freshmen living in dormitories, the previous short-term meningococcal vaccine (MPSV4) was recommended for this group for the past several years.  Studies have determined that the incidence of the disease begins to peak in 16-17 year-olds, supporting vaccination of young teenagers with the long term MCV4.   Thompson said, “Within 3 years, the goal is routine vaccination with MCV4 of all adolescents.”