Is there a vaccine to prevent invasive meningococcal disease?
Presently, there are 2 vaccines that will protect against four of the strains of the meningococcal organism (referred to A, C, W, and Y); one common strain, referred to as B, is not included in either vaccine. One vaccine is the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, Menomune [TM](MPSV4), that is licensed for use in persons 2 years of age and older. The second vaccine, a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra [TM], MCV4), is licensed for use in persons 2-55 years of age. The Advisory Committee on Immunization practices has issued recommendations for the routine use of MCV4 for: • Children at the pre-adolescent visit (11-12 years of age); • Adolescents at high school entry (15 years of age); • All college freshmen living in dormitories. Other populations at increased risk for meningococcal disease for which routine vaccination is recommended have not changed are: • Persons with functional or anatomic asplenia; • Persons with terminal complement deficiency; • Laboratory personnel who a
