Meningococcal Vaccine

Meningococcal vaccine can prevent four types of meningococcal disease. It can't prevent all types of the disease, but it does help protect many people who might become sick if they don't get the vaccine. Two meningococcal vaccines are available in the United States.

Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4)

The vaccine was licensed in 1978 for people aged two and older. MPSV4 vaccine should only be used if there's a permanent contraindication or precaution to MCV4 vaccine. MPSV4 is not routinely recommended for kids. Only MPSV4 vaccine can be used for high-risk people aged 56 and older. The vaccine is given as an injection into the fat of the arm.

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4)

The first type of MCV4 vaccine, Menactra, was licensed in 2005 for people aged 2 through 55 years. A second MCV4 vaccine, Menveo, was licensed in 2010 for people aged 11 through 55 years. MCV4 vaccines are routinely recommended for kids because they’re expected to give better, longer-lasting protection than the MPSV4 vaccine. These vaccines are given in the arm muscle.

Healthy Kids and Teens

Healthy kids and teens aged 11-18 years should get two doses of the MCV4 vaccine at:

Age 11-12 years as part of the pre-teen health checkup.
Age 16-18 years. This second dose is often called a booster dose.

Teens who did not get their first dose during the pre-teen health visit should get a dose at the earliest opportunity. If the first dose was given after the 16th birthday, a second dose is not needed.

High-Risk Kids and Teens

Kids and teens with HIV, complement component deficiency, and absent or defective spleens need two doses of the vaccine. They may also need additional booster doses. Ask your health care provider how many booster doses your teen needs for full protection.

A single dose of MCV4 is also recommended for:

Military recruits.
Microbiologists.
Anyone who travels to or lives in a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, like parts of Africa.
People who may have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak.

More information:

State-Supplied Vaccine