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MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINES: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Williamson County Schools recently sent home information for
parents about meningococcal vaccines. State law requires
that school systems notify parents of the vaccine, which is
available to you through your health care provider. This
vaccine is not required to attend Williamson County
Schools.
- What is meningococcal disease?
Meningitis is an infection of
the fluid surrounding the brain and the spinal cord. It can
also cause blood infections. Meningitis can either be
bacterial or viral. It is the bacterial meningococcal
disease that is a serious illness for all ages.
- Meningococcal Vaccine
Two vaccines are available in
the U.S. Meningococcal polysaccharide (MPSV4) has been
available since the 1970s. Meningococcal conjugates vaccine
(MCV4) was licensed since 2005. Each vaccine can prevent
four types of meningococcal disease, including two of the
three types most common in the U.S. It cannot prevent all
types of the disease. Both vaccines work well in about 90
percent of the people who get them.
- Who should get meningococcal
vaccine and when?
MCV4 is often recommended for
all children at their routine preadolescent visit (11-12
years of age). A dose may be recommended at high school or
college entry if the child has never received the vaccine
before. It may also be recommended for microbiologists, US
military, travel to Africa, or for individuals with a
damaged spleen.
- Who could get meningococcal
disease?
Anyone can get meningococcal
disease. It is most common in infants less than one year of
age and people with certain medical conditions, such as lack
of a spleen. College freshmen who live in dormitories have
an increased risk of getting meningococcal disease. In
order to get the disease the bacteria must enter the body
and settle in the area around the brain and spinal cord.
- Symptoms of meningococcal
disease
Symptoms may include high
fever, severe headache, nausea and vomiting, stiff neck,
alertness changes such as sleepiness or confusion and
sensitivity of light.
- Whom should you contact for more
information or concerns?
Contact your Health Care
Provider or our local health department at 794-1542. You
can go to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/. |
