Vaccination against meningococcal infection for children and adults

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Meningitis is an acute, rapidly developing infectious disease that can cause serious complications that are incompatible with life. A person can only be saved by timely seeking medical help or a vaccination against meningococcal infection.

About infection

Meningitis is an inflammatory disease of the brain and spinal cord caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Children are most susceptible to this pathology, but it also occurs in adults. The highest risk is found in children under 2 years of age and adolescents.

Meningitis is transmitted by airborne droplets. When it enters the body, the bacterium very quickly moves along with the blood stream and affects the lining of the brain, which, in turn, becomes the cause of death. Therefore, experts recommend that the child must be vaccinated against meningococcal infection, despite the fact that it is not included in the list of mandatory ones.

The most severe infections include meningococcemia and meningitis. The main danger of the disease is the rapid development and difficulties in diagnosis at the very beginning of infection. After infection, the patient has no symptoms other than a high fever.

As the body is damaged, the following symptoms appear:

• increased sensitivity to light;
• tension in the muscles of the neck, due to which it is not possible to tilt the head forward;
• nausea;
• unbearable headache;
• fever.

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The main hallmark of meningitis is a skin rash that does not fade when pressed with any transparent object.

Who needs the vaccine

An infection is especially dangerous in childhood (2-3 years), since the immune system is not yet fully formed. Also, children with the following pathologies have an increased risk:

• any congenital malformations;
• severe somatic diseases;
• immunodeficiency.

Since vaccination against meningococcal infection is not included in the national vaccination schedule, it is carried out on the advice of a doctor or if a collective outbreak of the disease is noticed.

It is advisable to vaccinate children against meningitis in the following cases:

• with weak immunity;
• before going on vacation to other countries or regions (especially if outbreaks of infection have been registered there);
• when visiting children's groups.

Parents often ask at what age their children are vaccinated against meningitis. Experts recommend vaccinating a child up to 2-3 years old.

Contraindications

It is strictly forbidden to be vaccinated against meningococcal infection in case of severe allergic reactions to the components of the vaccine or in case of individual intolerance.

It is necessary to postpone vaccination in the following cases:

• digestive problems (constipation, diarrhea, etc.);
• ARVI;
• acute infectious conditions;
• chronic pathologies in the stage of exacerbation.

It is possible to get vaccinated against meningitis only 2 weeks after the normalization of health.

Vaccine types

Currently, there are 3 types of vaccines: conjugate, protein and polysaccharide. Each of them shows excellent effectiveness in 9 out of 10 cases.

Conjugated

The principle of action of this type of vaccine is similar to polysaccharide. They effectively counteract the development of meningitis caused by bacteria of 4 serotypes: W135, Y, C, A.

Conjugate vaccines are able to create a sufficiently stable barrier against the penetration of bacteria. They are suitable for vaccination from 2 months of age. The protective effect lasts for 10 years.

There are 3 drugs from this group of vaccines with different indications and administration regimen. These include:

• Menveo. For children from 2 years old and adults. Introduced once every 5 years.
• Nimenrix. Indications for use - from 1 year. It is administered according to the same scheme as the previous drug.
• NeisVac-C. Suitable only from 1 strain - C. It is introduced twice with an interval of 2 months, starting from two months of age to 1 year, and from an older age - 1 time.
• Menaktra. It is introduced twice from 9 months of age with an interval of 3 months. Re-vaccination is carried out once at the age of two.

Conjugate vaccines are available only in Europe, the United States and Canada.

Protein

Vaccines of this type are effective against meningococcal infection of serotype B. They help to obtain stable immunity to infection.

The scheme of administration of protein vaccines is as follows:

• from 2 to 5 months - three times with an interval of 30 days, then another 1 dose at 12-23 months;
• from 6 to 11 months - twice with an interval of 2 months and again until the age of two;
• from 12 to 23 months - twice with an interval of 2 months, then 1-2 years after the first injection of the drug;
• from 2 to 11 years - twice with an interval of more than 2 months;
• from 11 years old - twice with an interval of more than 1 month.

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Currently, there are only 2 preparations of the protein group - Bexsero and MenB. They are recommended to be administered during infancy.

Polysaccharide

Vaccines of this type help to form stable immunity to almost all serotypes of meningococcal infection, except for B. Currently, there are 3 types of drugs in this group:

• tetravalent (from serotypes W135, Y, C, A);
• trivalent (W135, C, A);
• bivalent (A, C).

The most popular polysaccharide drugs for meningitis vaccination include:

• Menaktra (from 2 to 55 years old);
• Mentsevax ACWY (2 years older);
• Meningo A + C;
• polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine A + C;
• dry polysaccharide A.

Each of the vaccines remains effective in childhood for about 2 years, in adults - 3-5 years. Experts recommend getting vaccinated once every 3 years.

Possible reactions

Most often, the meningococcal vaccine is well tolerated at any age. In some cases, side effects may occur that disappear on their own within 2 days. These include:

• small rashes, redness, swelling at the injection site;
• muscle aches;
• drowsiness;
• fever;
• chills;
• a slight increase in body temperature (no more than 37, 5 °).

If symptoms persist after 2 days, you should immediately seek medical help.

Depending on the drug, the cost of vaccination against meningococcal infection starts at 3,700 rubles.

Outcomes

Vaccination against meningitis is optional and is not part of the national immunization schedule. But it is important to remember that this infection is deadly, therefore experts recommend that parents be sure to vaccinate their children against all strains of the disease.