The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a meningococcal conjugate vaccine for use among persons aged 2 to 55 years. This quadrivalent conjugate vaccine is designed to offer protection against four serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, C, Y, W-135), which account for approximately 70 percent of cases in the United States.

Conjugate vaccines have been shown to stimulate more powerful immune responses. In general, the benefits of a successful conjugate vaccine include long-term immunity without the need for revaccination as well as decreased carriage of meningococcal bacteria among adolescents, preventing the spread of the disease. 

Before the conjugate vaccine was licensed, a polysaccharide vaccine, that provides protection against four of the five disease strains for three to five years – had been quite effective in reducing rates of the disease among certain populations.

No vaccine currently is available in the U.S. to protect against serogroup B, although scientists and pharmaceutical manufacturers are conducting studies of vaccines against the B serogroup.

As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site or a mild fever, which typically last for one to two days.

To find out if a meningococcal vaccination is right for your family, please contact your health care provider.

CDC Recommendations on Vaccination
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on national vaccination policy, met in June 2007 and developed recommendations calling for meningococcal disease immunization for all adolescents11-18 years of age.

There are additional groups for which the CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination. 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.