My son will be 11 9/23/09. His doctor recommended I get him vaccinated this summer before he starts school. Are there any affects from the vaccine? Is it too early?

Kathy Huddleson responds:

I am so happy to hear that your doctor has recommended that your son be vaccinated before he starts school. Immunization is the best way to protect against meningococcal disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends meningococcal immunization for all pre-teens and teens 11 through 18 years of age and college freshmen living in dormitories.

The vaccine Menactra 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. It is approved for anyone 2 years of age to 55 years of age. There is an earlier vaccine called Menomune that is still effective and is recommended for people ages 2 through 10 or over 55 who are at risk. You cannot get meningococcal disease from the vaccine. As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site or a mild fever. For more information and to determine if vaccination is appropriate for your child, I recommend you speak with your son’s doctor.

Please follow your doctor’s advice as to which vaccine he or she recommends since your son turns 11 on September 23rd. Your son’s birthday, September 23, happens to be the same day our daughter died in 2003. I personally believe it is never too early to get your child vaccinated. The phrase “Don’t wait, vaccinate” makes very good sense to me as a mom who lost her daughter so very quickly, within 18 hours of the first sign of the disease.