Question for Marybeth Leeber (MOM). Since your daughter was 5 years old and the vaccine is recommended for 11 to young adults, do you recommend that I get my 2 and 4 year old vaccinated? They have received the vaccination recommended when they were under 2 year old(not sure the name now), but it seems they may be still at risk for the other strains/types of meningitis not recommended for their age. My son (3 yrs old at the time) had just experience recovering from Strepoccus. Pneumonia meningitis and loss his hearing (severe to profound). I am grateful he survived, but devastated that I was not aware that it could happen to ask more questions that may have convinced the doctor to give him antibotics as soon as he had a high fever to protect him (in case). He had a fever with ear infection back to back just before it happen again the third times again coming back within the same intervals in that month (but with no ear infection this time). I am concerned about my 2 year old and want to give her this other vaccine to protect her, but since not recommended for her old is also concerned that it could harm her from side affects. I don’t know what to do, but do know since I know about meningitis, I wanted to do what I know in my power to protect her. When I took her to her pediatrian, she said it was not necessary and she should only have the necessary vaccine for her age, but this is the same doctor who diagnosed my son with a virus (when he hade high fever and vomitting) and sent us home and later it got worse to meningitis. (At that time it was isolated in infected area (doctors suspects sinus or throat) then went into bloodstream and then meningitis and loss his hearing. If you know what you know now about this disease (recom. for 11yrs-older), would you have vaccined her daughter at her age (before 5 years old)?

Marybeth Leeber responds:

While the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, Menactra, is approved by the FDA for use in people ages 2 to 55, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommends meningococcal vaccination for all adolescents ages 11 through 18 years and college freshmen living in dormitories.

Deciding whether or not to vaccinate someone who does not fall into the 11-18 year old age group is a very personal decision. I am an advocate of vaccinating children for potentially harmful diseases. Everyone in my family has received the vaccine. Recently, my daughter and I spoke at a conference at the CDC and my daughter stated “I wish I had the chance to be vaccinated” and “I would not wish meningitis on my worst enemy.”

When someone has seen the effects first hand of what can happen after contracting bacterial meningitis, it is much easier to decide to vaccinate. Ultimately, however, I recommend that you make this decision with a qualified health care professional.