The meningitis vaccine called Menactra meningitis vaccine called Menactra was approved by the FDA in January. It's a single shot against a meningitis-causing bacterium called Neisseria meningitidis, or meningococcus. It's supposed to last longer than previous meningococcal vaccines, says a CDC news release.
Meningococcal disease is rare, but it progresses quickly and sometimes kills or causes long-term disability. It's also the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. babies, children, and young adults. Meningitis is an infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord.
Meningococcal disease is notorious for spreading on college campuses; college students are at higher risk than their peers who aren't in college. It can be spread through direct contact with infected people (such as exchanging saliva by kissing) and is associated with crowded living conditions (including college dorms) and active or passive smoking.
Who Should Be Vaccinated
The CDC's recommendations apply to:
- Children aged 11-12 years
- Previously unvaccinated adolescents before entering high school or at age 15 (whichever comes first)
- All first-year college students living in dormitories
- Other high-risk groups, such as those with underlying medical conditions or travelers to areas with high rates of meningococcal disease, such as Africa and India.
- Other adolescents who choose to get the vaccine to reduce their risk
"As the vaccine supply increases, CDC hopes, within three years, to recommend routine vaccination [for] all adolescents beginning at 11 years of age," says the CDC's news release.
CDC 'Encourages' Getting the Shot
"This new vaccine can help protect adolescents and college students from meningococcal disease," says Stephen Cochi, MD, in a news release.
"CDC encourages those at increased risk to take the opportunity to get vaccinated to help protect them from this serious disease," says Cochi, the acting director of the CDC's National Immunization Program.