Are there vaccines against meningitis?
a. There are vaccines against Hib, some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective. By age 6 months of age, every infant should receive at least 3 doses of a Hib vaccine. A fourth dose (“booster”) should be given to children between 12 and 18 months of age. b. There are two types of vaccines that protect against four of the five strains of N. meningitidis. These vaccines are not effective in children under 18 months of age. Vaccines against N. meningitidis are sometimes used to control outbreaks of some types of meningococcal meningitis in the United States. Large outbreaks of meningococcal meningitis are unusual in the United States, but they do occur in overseas settings, especially the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, outbreaks have been associated with large events such as the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, where vaccination is now mandatory for participants. Overseas travelers s
Yes, there are vaccines against H.influenzae as well as against some serogroups of N.meningitidis and against many types of S.pneumoniae. The vaccines against H.influenzae are very safe and highly effective and are now administered to children as part of their routine childhood immunizations plans. There are two vaccines against N.meningitidis available in the USA. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 or Menomune) has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and available since 1981. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4 or MenactraT) was licensed in 2005. Both vaccines can prevent four types of meningococcal disease, including two of the three types most common in the USA. (serogroup C, Y, and W-135) and a type that causes epidemics in Africa (serogroup A). Meningococcal vaccines cannot prevent all types of the disease. They do, however, protect many people who might become sick if they did not get the vaccine. Meningitis cases should be reported to state or loca
Yes, there are vaccines against Hib and against some strains of N. meningitidis (meningococcal disease) and many types of Streptococcus pneumonia. The vaccines against Hib are very safe and highly effective. Boynton Health Service can administer this vaccine, but it is not covered under the student services fee. For more information, please call Boynton Health Service at 612-625-3222.
Yes. There are vaccines against Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type B) and against some strains of N. meningitidis and many types of Streptococcus pneumoniae. The vaccines against Hib are considered very safe and highly effective. By age 6 months of age, every infant should receive at least three doses of an Hib vaccine. A fourth dose (“booster”) should be given to children between 12 and 18 months of age. There is also a vaccine that protects against four strains of N. meningitidis, but it is not routinely used in the United States. It is not effective in children under 18 months of age. It is sometimes used to control outbreaks of some types of meningococcal meningitis in the United States. College students are typically given the vaccine prior to residence at college. Although large epidemics of meningococcal meningitis do not occur in the United States, some countries experience large, periodic epidemics. Overseas travelers should check to see if meningococcal vaccine is recommended f
