Meningitis vaccine
What is Meningitis?
Meningitis is a bacterial disease spread through coughing and sneezing or through person-to-person contact (e.g. kissing, sharing drinking glasses, intimate contact).
What are the symptoms of Meningitis?
Symptoms of this disease are sudden fever, intense headache, nausea and vomiting, and stiff neck.
Where is it common?
High-risk areas for contracting Group A meningococcal meningitis include, Angola Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, C�te d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Saudi Arabia.
Outbreaks may also occur in countries not listed.
Who needs meningococcal vaccine?
Vaccination for meningitis is recommended for the following people:- People staying in high risk areas for extended time periods, such as 1 month or more.
- Adults with poor function of the spleen or spleen removed if travelling to a country with increased risk of serogroups A, W135 and Y disease.
- People engaging in high-risk holidays or work, such as backpacking or living in rural communities.
- People attending the Hajj (Mecca) and Umrah pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia.
- Seasonal working in the Hajj area.
Saudi Arabia now requires proof of vaccination for visitors arriving for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, or for seasonal working in the Hajj areas.
How long prior to traveling should the meningitis vaccine be administered?
Meningitis shot should be administered 2-3 weeks before travel.
Meningitis vaccine
Meningitis vaccine is the quadrivalent and inactivated vaccine. A single shot provides cover against strains A, C, Y, and W135 of the disease.
Single dose of vaccine is given intramuscularly and booster dose every 5 years.
Who should not get vaccinated?
Person should not get vaccinated if he or she:- Has a current severe febrile illness (high fever).
- Has had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (lip and tongue swelling, rash, shortness of breath, etc.) to a previous dose of meningitis vaccine.
What should be expected post vaccination?
Injection site redness occur in approximately 10% of meningitis vaccine recipients and last for approximately 24-48 hours.
Severe reaction (lip and tongue swelling, rash, shortness of breath, etc) after immunization is extremely rare
Where travelers can get vaccinated for meningitis in New York City?
Our certified conveniently located Midtown Manhattan travel clinic offers vaccine for meningococcal meningitis for travelers.
Please call us at (212) 696 5900 to ensure your travel safety.
For more information please go to: http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm