The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends routine meningococcal vaccination to protect against four of five major serogroups (A, C, Y and W) with an initial dose at age 11-12 and a booster dose at age 16. The CDC suggests that adolescents receive the vaccine within five years before starting college.

CDC recommends permissive use of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine for adolescents and young adults age 16-23, with a preferred age of 16 to 18. Click here for more information.

Parents, teens and young adults should speak with a healthcare provider about full protection against all five major serogroups of meningococcal disease (A, C, W, Y and B).

Others recommended for meningococcal vaccination include younger children and adults with certain medical conditions, travelers and military recruits. For the full list of persons recommended by the CDC for meningococcal vaccination, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/who-vaccinate.htm.