Meningococcal Vaccines
(Meningitis)
Click here for more information about Meningitis vaccinations.
Click here for the Meningitis Vaccination Consent Form.
Click here for High School clinic locations.
Click here for the Community Meningitis clinics.
What is Meningococcal disease?
- Meningococccal disease is a serious bacterial illness. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2 years through 18 years of age in the United States. Meningitis is an infection that causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal disease also causes blood infections.
Meningococcal vaccine
- There are two kinds of meningococcal vaccines in the United States:
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is the preferred vaccine for people 2 years through 55 years of age.
- Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) is the only vaccine licensed for people older than 55 years of age. This vaccine can be used if MCV4 is not available.
Who should get meningococcal vaccine and when?
- A dose of MCV4 is recommended for children and adolescents 11 years through 18 years of age. This dose is normally given during the routine pre-adolescent immunization visit (11-12 years of age). But those who did not get the vaccine during this visit should get it at the earliest opportunity.
- Meningococcal vaccine is also recommended for other people at increased risk of meningococcal disease:
- Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria
- U.S. Military recruits
- Anyone traveling to, or living in, a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts of Africa
- Anyone who has a damaged spleen, or whose spleen has been removed
- Anyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder)
- People who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak
College freshmen living in dormitories
How can I learn more?
- Call (866) 800-0135 and ask for the Wellness Department for additional information or to schedule an appointment.