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References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine information statement. Meningococcal vaccines: what you need to know. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2011.
  2. National Meningitis Association. About meningitis. http://www.nmaus.org/about_meningitis/index.htm. Accessed July 20, 2011.
  3. Granoff DM, Harrison LH, Borrow R. Meningococcal vaccines. In: Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, eds.Vaccines. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Co.; 2008.
  4. World Health Organization. Fact sheet No. 141: meningococcal meningitis. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs141/en/. Accessed July 20, 2011.
  5. Menactra vaccine [Prescribing Information]. Swiftwater, PA: Sanofi Pasteur Inc; 2009.
  6. Erickson LJ, De Wals P, McMahon J, Heim S. Complications of meningococcal disease in college students. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33(5):737-739.
  7. Warren HS Jr, Gonzalez RG, Tian D. Case records of the Massachusetts General Hospital. Case 38-2003: A 12-year-old girl with fever and coma. N Engl J Med. 2003;349(24):2341-2349.
  8. Keyserling H, Papa T, Koranyi K, et al. Safety, immunogenicity, and immune memory of a novel meningococcal (groups A, C, Y, and W-135) polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (MCV-4) in healthy adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005;159(10):907-913.
  9. CDC. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2005;
    54(RR-7):1-21.
  10. CDC. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years — United States, 2010. MMWR. 2010;57(1):Q1-Q4.
  11. CDC. Update: Guillain-Barré syndrome among recipients of Menactra® meningococcal conjugate vaccine — United States, June 2005-September 2006. MMWR. 2006;55(41):1120-1124.
  12. Harrison LH, Pass MA, Mendelsohn AB, et al. Invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults. JAMA. 2001;286(6):694-699.
  13. CDC. Summary of notifiable diseases — United States, 2004. MMWR. 2004;53(53):1-81.
  14. CDC. Summary of notifiable diseases — United States, 2005. MMWR. 2005;54(53):1-92.
  15. CDC. Summary of notifiable diseases — United States, 2006. MMWR. 2006;55(53):1-94.
  16. CDC. Revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to vaccinate all persons aged 11-18 years with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. MMWR. 2007;56(31):794-795.
  17. Shoham S, Cover C, Donegan N, Fulnecky E, Kumar P. Cryptococcus neoformans meningitis at 2 hospitals in Washington, D.C.: adherence of health care providers to published practice guidelines for the management of cryptococcal disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;40(3):477-479.
  18. Infectious: viral meningitis. Meningitis Foundation of America Web site. http://www.meningitisfoundationofamerica.org/templates/content-view/85/index.html. Accessed July 20, 2011.
  19. CDC. VFC operations guide: module 1 - overview. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/operations-guide.htm. Accessed July 20, 2011.

Indication

Menactra vaccine is given to people 9 months through 55 years of age to help prevent meningococcal disease (including meningitis) caused by certain strains of meningococcal bacteria. Menactra vaccine is not indicated for the prevention of meningitis caused by meningococcal strains not contained in the vaccine.

Safety Information

Side effects to Menactra vaccine include injection site pain, redness, swelling, headache and tiredness. In infants, irritability, crying, drowsiness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea. Other side effects may occur. Vaccination should be avoided by persons with known hypersensitivity (severe allergic reaction) to any ingredient of the vaccine or by any persons previously diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome (severe muscle weakness). There is a potential for an increased chance of getting Guillain-Barré syndrome following vaccination. Vaccination with Menactra vaccine may not protect all individuals.

For more information about Menactra vaccine, talk to your health-care professional.