Hi,My son has finished high school in the UK and has had, like British students have to, the Meningitis C vaccine. He is going to university in the US and the college recommends the meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine. Do you know whether the vaccine he has had in the UK is the same?

Marybeth Leeber responds:

Due to the medical nature of your question, I recommend that you contact your healthcare provider. You mention that the vaccine your son had protects against type C meningitis. The meningococcal quadrivalent polysaccharide vaccine protects against types A, C Y and W-135. There is also a type B which is not covered by the vaccine.