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What You Need to Know
Meningitis is a type of invasive meningococcal disease. It's a bacterial infection that can attack the brain and spinal cord.1
Until 2014, there was no vaccine to help protect against meningococcal group B disease (MenB) in the US. Now there are vaccines for groups A, C, W, and Y, and for group B. Talk to your health care provider about getting protected.3,4
Early symptoms of meningococcal disease seem like the flu—fever, headache, and drowsiness—but can lead to death within 24 hours.6,7
Learn about a vaccine
that can help protect
against MenB
There are 5 common forms of the bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis in the US: A, C, W, Y, and B.2 Even if you’ve previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, you may not be fully protected against all forms. Two different vaccines are necessary to protect you against all 5 forms.
50% of all meningococcal disease cases, in persons 17 to 23 years of age in the US, are caused by group B.5
For those who survive, it can cause permanent disabilities including hearing loss, brain damage, speech problems, vision loss, amputation, motor impairment, and skin scarring.8
Meningitis is a type of invasive meningococcal disease. It's a bacterial infection that can attack the brain and spinal cord.1
There are 5 common forms of the bacteria that cause meningococcal meningitis in the US: A, C, W, Y, and B.2 Even if you’ve previously been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, you may not be fully protected against all forms. Two different vaccines are necessary to protect you against all 5 forms.
Until 2014, there was no vaccine to help protect against meningococcal group B disease (MenB) in the US. Now there are vaccines for groups A, C, W, and Y, and for group B. Talk to your health care provider about getting protected.3,4
50% of all meningococcal disease cases, in persons 17 to 23 years of age in the US, are caused by group B.5
Early symptoms of meningococcal disease seem like the flu—fever, headache, and drowsiness—but can lead to death within 24 hours.6,7
For those who survive, it can cause permanent disabilities including hearing loss, brain damage, speech problems, vision loss, amputation, motor impairment, and skin scarring.8
Learn about a vaccine
that can help protect
against MenB
References
- 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Updated March 28, 2017. Accessed June 15, 2017.
- 2. McNeil LK, Zagursky RJ, Lin SL, et al. Role of factor H binding protein in Neisseria meningitidis virulence and its potential as a vaccine candidate to broadly protect against meningococcal disease. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2013;77(2):234-252.
- 3. Folaranmi T, Rubin L, Martin SW, et al. Use of serogroup B meningococcal vaccines in persons aged ≥10 years at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2015. MMWR. 2015;64(22):608-612.
- 4. MacNeil JR, Rubin L, Folaranmi T, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Use of serogroup B meningococcal vaccines in adolescents and young adults: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR. 2015;64(41):1171-1176.
- 5. Soeters HM, McNamara LA, Whaley M, et al. Serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak and carriage evaluation at a college Rhode Island, 2015. MMWR. 2015;64(22):606-607.
- 6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease: signs and symptoms: meningococcal meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/about/symptoms.html. Updated June 7, 2017. Accessed June 15, 2017.
- 7. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397-403.
- 8. Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Le Saux N, et al. The disease burden of invasive meningococcal disease in Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013;32(1):e20-e25.
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- June 2017
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