CDC Recommendations
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has created guidelines for parents to know what vaccines they — and their children should receive. The following is a recommendation for routine vaccination of persons aged 11 through 18 years.
ACIP recommends routine vaccination of persons with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine at age 11 or 12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years.
For adolescents who receive the first dose at age 13 through 15 years, a one-time booster dose should be administered, preferably at age 16 through 18 years, before the peak in increased risk. Persons who receive their first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at or after age 16 years do not need a booster dose.
Persons with persistent complement component deficiencies (e.g., C5-C9, properidin, factor H or factor D) or asplenia should receive a 2-dose primary series administered 2 months apart and then receive a booster dose every 5 years. Adolescents aged 11 through 18 years with HIV infection should be routinely vaccinated with a 2-dose primary series. Other persons with HIV who are vaccinated should receive a 2-dose primary series administered 2 months apart. All other persons at increased risk for meningococcal disease (e.g., microbiologists or travelers to an epidemic or highly endemic country) should receive a single dose.
These recommendations are inconsistent with the currently licensed indications for Menactra vaccine.
Who shouldn’t get the meningococcal meningitis vaccine?
The CDC recommends that children with the following conditions should not get the meningococcal meningitis vaccine or should wait: those who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose; those with a life-threatening allergy to any vaccine ingredient; those who are moderately or severely ill when the meningococcal immunization is scheduled; and those who have had Guillain-Barré syndrome.1 If your child has any of the above conditions, it is important that you talk to your doctor.
NEXT: Why Menactra Vaccine?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.
Does your child need to be vaccinated?
Your state may require your child to be vaccinated against meningococcal disease.