Meningitis Vaccine for Meningococcal Meningitis
- Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune®) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been available since 1981.
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or Menactra™) was licensed in 2005.
Both meningitis vaccines can prevent four types of meningococcal meningitis, including two of the three types most common in the United States (serogroup C, Y, and W-135) and a type that causes epidemics in Africa (serogroup A).
Meningococcal meningitis vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease. But they do protect many people who might become sick if they didn't get the meningitis vaccine.
MCV4
The MCV4 meningitis vaccine is recommended for all children at their routine preadolescent visit (11 to 12 years of age). For those who have never gotten MCV4 previously, a dose is recommended at high school entry. Other adolescents who want to decrease their risk of meningococcal meningitis can also get this meningitis vaccine.
Other people at increased risk, and for whom vaccination with this meningitis vaccine is recommended, include:
- College freshmen living in dormitories
- Microbiologists who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria
- U.S. military recruits
- Anyone who has a damaged spleen or whose spleen has been removed
- Anyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder)
- Anyone who is traveling to the countries that have an outbreak of meningococcal disease
- Those who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak.
MCV4 is the preferred meningococcal meningitis vaccine for people 11 to 55 years of age in these risk groups, but MPSV4 can be used if MCV4 is not available.
MPSV4 should be used for children 2 to 10 years old, and adults over 55, who are at risk.
Although large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis do not occur in the United States, some countries experience large, periodic epidemics. Overseas travelers should check to see if meningococcal meningitis vaccine is recommended for their destination. Travelers should receive this vaccine at least one week before departure, if possible.
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