NMA Mission
NMA's mission is to educate families, medical professionals and others about bacterial meningitis and prevention approaches to the disease.
The National Meningitis Association (NMA) is a nonprofit organization founded by parents whose children have died or live with permanent
disabilities from meningococcal disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends meningococcal vaccination for all adolescents 11-18 years of age.
NMA’s Work
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"Vaccination is the ONLY way to prevent Meningitis"
Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that causes swelling of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis,
or causes blood poisoning, called meningococcemia.
It is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. among toddlers, adolescents and young adults.
The number of meningococcal disease cases changes from year to year. From 1998 to 2007, about 1,500 Americans were infected each year, with a range of 900 to 3,000 cases. 11% of those infected will die.
Adolescents and young adults have an increased incidence of meningococcal disease, accounting for 15 percent of all cases. One out of seven cases among adolescents will result in death.
Among those who survive meningococcal disease, approximately 20 percent live with permanent disabilities, such as brain damage, kidney disease, hearing loss or loss of limbs.
There is a safe, FDA-approved vaccine that can help prevent the majority of adolescent cases.
The National Meningitis Association (NMA) is a nonprofit organization founded by parents whose children have died or live with permanent
disabilities from meningococcal disease.
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