Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has modified its guidelines for use of the polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine to prevent bacterial meningitis, particularly for college freshmen that live in dormitories. At its October 20, 1999 meeting the ACIP cited results of two CDC studies done in 1998 which identified a slightly higher risk for freshman dormitory residents. The ACIP recommended at that time health care providers give information to college freshman and their parents about meningococcal disease and the benefits of vaccination. Vaccination should be provided or made easily available to those freshmen who wish to reduce their risk of disease. Other undergraduate students wishing to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease can also choose to be vaccinated.

As you know, a single dose of the vaccine is recommended, and vaccination will decrease the risk of disease caused by N. memingitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. However, vaccination will not totally eliminate risk of the disease because the vaccine does not protect against serogroup B and because, although highly effective against serogroups C and Y, it still does not confer 100% protection against these serogroups.

More information on meningococcal disease, its symptoms, and the vaccine is available on the websites: the CDC Bacterial & Mycotic Disease Division; the DOH Fact Sheet (Meningitis); and the MedlinePlus tutorial MENINGITIS 


Breaking News on "Menactra":
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently licensed Menactra(TM) (Meningococcal [Groups A, C, Y and W-135] Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine) for protection against meningococcal disease in adolescents and adults aged 11-55 years.

Menactra vaccine is the first quadrivalent conjugate vaccine licensed in the U.S. for the prevention of meningococcal disease and is designed to offer protection against four serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, C, Y, W-135), the bacterium sub-groups that cause most meningococcal infections.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has formed a working group that has updated the recommendations for the prevention and control of meningococcal disease, including routine meningococcal vaccination of one or more birth cohorts (e.g., 11-12 year olds) and of selected college students. Their recommendations can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4907a2.htm .

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edited 04/24/08
ICPH web control
Mar '98