New Meningococcal Vaccine
March 2005
Menactraâ, a vaccine that protects against meningococcal disease, has been approved by the FDA for persons age 11 through 55 and is now available for our patients.
Meningococcal disease is a very serious bacterial illness in which a person develops a rapidly progressing form of meningitis. It is fortunately uncommon, with an average of about 3000 cases in the United States each year. Of these cases, approximately 300 die; some survivors have permanent disabilities such as hearing loss, intellectual impairment, and damage or loss of limbs.
Freshman in college are at a somewhat increased risk for this condition so many colleges require meningococcal vaccination before matriculation. Every so often a high school student in the Southeast Pennsylvania area will come down with the disease; you may remember that a few years ago two cases occurred at Abington High School.
The new vaccine gives good protection against two-thirds of cases of meningococcal disease; there is no vaccine to protect against “type B” disease, which accounts for the remaining third of cases. Side effects of the vaccine are mild and include soreness, headache, and fever.
We will give the vaccine to all youngsters age 11 and above at well check-ups. You can find links to more information about Menactraâ at the web site of the CDC (www.cdc.gov).