{"id":6292,"date":"2019-05-09T02:52:09","date_gmt":"2019-05-09T02:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=6292"},"modified":"2021-06-09T12:40:09","modified_gmt":"2021-06-09T12:40:09","slug":"14-things-you-should-know-about-meningococcal-vaccine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-things-you-should-know-about-meningococcal-vaccine\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Things You Should Know About Meningococcal Vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Meningococcal disease is currently at an all-time low in the United States of America. Since the 1990s the rates of this type of disease have been declining. Most of the decline was seen before meningococcal conjugate vaccines were routinely used. Additionally, the rates of serogroup B meningococcal disease have declined steadily even though the vaccines for this strain were not available until the late part of 2014. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among people aged eleven through nineteen the rates of the disease caused by serogroups W, Y, and C have seen an 80 percent decrease since this age group was first recommended to get vaccinated. Declines of this magnitude were not seen in other age groups who were not getting the vaccine routinely. This data suggests that the vaccines provide protection for those who are vaccinated, but not for those who do not get the vaccinations. Here are some other things that you should know about the meningococcal vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Effectiveness of the Vaccines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In order for the vaccine to be licensed it had to be shown that both the serogroup B and conjugate vaccines produce an immune response to show that they are protective. While both vaccines have shown this, there is not much data to show how well the vaccines work to protect against the disease. Since the meningococcal disease is rare, there needs to be a lot of people vaccinated before the effectiveness is measured on a grander scale. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data suggests that the protection offered by the meningococcal conjugate vaccines<\/a> will decrease within teens in just 5 years. This highlights why it is important to get the booster dose at age sixteen so that teens remain protected during the ages that they are most at risk for the disease. Early data from the serogroup B vaccines shows that protective antibodies decrease quickly after a person has been vaccinated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. CDC Recommendations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The CDC recommends that all preteens receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine when they are eleven or twelve years old. A booster dose of the vaccine <\/a>should be provided when the child reaches sixteen years of age. Both teens and young adults, from ages 16 through 23 should also be provided the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. In some situations, other children as well as adults might receive a recommendation to get the vaccines as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the vaccine is typically provided to a child at their eleven or twelve-year-old well check. The booster dose is given at the sixteen-year-old well check. If you are unsure about whether or not your child has been provided this vaccination it is important to check their medical records or discuss the vaccination process with their doctor. You can ask your child\u2019s doctor any questions that you may have about the vaccination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Types of Meningococcal Vaccines for Teens and Preteens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are currently two types of meningococcal vaccines for teens <\/a>and preteens. These are the meningococcal conjugate vaccine and the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. The conjugate vaccines are either Menveo \u00ae or Menactra \u00ae. The serogroup B vaccines are Trumenba \u00ae and Bexsero \u00ae. Every child that is eleven or twelve should receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine. They should then be provided with a booster dose when they are sixteen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition, teens age sixteen to eighteen should be provided the serogroup B vaccine. You should discuss these vaccines with your doctor to determine the best choice for your child. Your doctor can provide you with information about each of the types of vaccines that are available and will also tell you which one would be best for your particular situation. Make sure that all of your questions are answered so you are comfortable getting this vaccination for your child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Terms to Know<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One term that you should know when it comes to meningococcal disease is Neisseria meningitidis. This is the bacteria <\/a>that causes all meningococcal disease. The other term that you should know when it comes to meningococcal disease is serogroup. This refers to groups of bacteria that are closely related. There are five serogroups of the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. These are the five groups that cause all types of meningococcal diseases in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are A, B, C, W, and Y. It is important to know these terms as the vaccines that are available only work against certain types of bacteria. In addition, the vaccines will help the body to produce antibodies that will fight off the bacterial infection. Research as shown that the antibodies that are created by getting the vaccine do not last forever. This is why a booster vaccination is necessary at a later date. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Who Else Should Get a Meningococcal Vaccine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While it is recommended that all eleven and twelve-year-olds receive a meningococcal conjugate vaccination, teens and preteens should also get the serogroup B vaccination if they are taking a medication called Soliris \u00ae , if they have a rare disorder, have a spleen that is damaged or has been removed, or if they are in a part of a population that is known to be at an increased risk of a serogroup B outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children who are from two months to ten years should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccination if they have a rare disorder, are taking Soliris \u00ae, have a spleen that is damaged, have had their spleen removed, are diagnosed with HIV <\/a>or if they are traveling or living in countries where meningococcal disease is common. It is important to discuss with your doctor when the child should receive a booster shot after receiving the initial vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Should not get a Meningococcal Vaccine?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are certain people who should avoid getting the meningococcal vaccinations. Some people who should avoid this vaccine are those who have had an allergic reaction<\/a> or currently have a severe allergy. Anyone who had an allergic reaction to a dose of the vaccine should not get a booster or another dose of the vaccination. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not get this vaccine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, pregnant women who are at a higher risk for serogroup A, C, W, and Y meningococcal diseases may be given the vaccination. A serogroup B vaccination should only be given to a pregnant or breastfeeding woman who is at a higher risk for this disease and decide that the benefits of the vaccination outweigh the risk. People who are ill should not get the vaccination until they recover from the illness. Always discuss vaccinations with your doctor to ensure that you are comfortable and able to receive it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. How Well do the Meningococcal Vaccinations Work?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The vaccines for meningococcal disease work very well. However, they do not prevent all cases of meningococcal disease. In studies designed to test the efficacy of the conjugate vaccines, it was found that nine out of every ten people who were vaccinated showed a protective response against the disease a month after completing the vaccination <\/a>series. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vaccine is most effective for teens and has a similar efficacy on adults with eight out of ten people showing a positive response. The efficacy of the serogroup B vaccines is a bit lower with positive immune responses from only seven to eight out of every ten people within a month of receiving the vaccination series. Overall, most people who receive these vaccinations will show a positive immune response when it comes to fighting off the disease. In most cases, the positive effects of vaccinations outweigh the risk of developing meningococcal disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Possible Side Effects<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most people who receive the meningococcal vaccinations will not experience any type of side effect. In fact, most people do not have a problem with it at all. However, as with any type of medication, including vaccinations, there is a chance that a person may experience some side effects. Most of these side effects are very mild and will go away on their own in just a few days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a serious reaction to the vaccination is possible. Some mild problems that may be caused by the vaccination include redness <\/a>or pain where the shot was provided, a fever, feeling tired, muscle pain, joint pain, headaches, and swelling. These symptoms will typically go away in one or two days. Some more serious symptoms include nausea or diarrhea, fever, and chills. If these occur they may last anywhere from three to seven days. If the symptoms are severe or lasts more than a few days you may want to consult your doctor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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