At a critical time, immunity to meningococcal meningitis may wane
Studies have shown that protection provided by the primary meningococcal vaccination given at 11 to 12 years of age wanes over time.1 In fact, approximately 50% of older adolescents may be under-protected against meningococcal disease 5 years after primary vaccination—the same time they enter their peak period of risk for this disease.1 For this reason, the ACIPa recommends that adolescents receive 2 doses of meningococcal vaccine: the first at 11 to 12 years of age and the second at 16 years of age.2
Despite the issue of waning immunity and the ACIP recommendation, booster vaccination rates among 16- to 18-year-olds are low. It is estimated that only 29.6% of older adolescents have received a booster dose, leaving approximately 7 million of this population under-vaccinated.3,4
How will you help protect your patients from this potentially devastating disease?
It’s crucial that you talk to your patients and their parents about meningococcal disease. Consider adding content to your website or phone message to remind them that common behaviors like sharing drinking glasses or cups and kissing may put adolescents at increased risk for meningococcal disease.5,6 You counsel your older adolescents on a variety of risks—help protect them from the risk of meningococcal disease, too.
Take the opportunity to immunize when you can, during both sick and well visits. Have a staff meeting to ensure that all nurses and staff understand the importance of adolescent immunization and the dangers associated with risky behaviors.
a ACIP = Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
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References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Updated recommendations for use of meningococcal conjugate vaccines—Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR. 2011;60(3):72-76. 2. CDC. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR. 2013;62(RR-2):1-28. 3. CDC. National, regional, state, and selected local area vaccination coverage among adolescents aged 13–17 years—United States, 2013. MMWR. 2014;63(29):625-633. 4. Sanofi Pasteur Inc. Data on file (2nd dose immunization rates), April 2013. MKT26442. 5. CDC. Meningococcal disease. In: Atkinson W, Wolfe S, Hamborsky J, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases. 12th ed. Second printing. Washington DC: Public Health Foundation; 2012:193-204. 6. Hampton University. Meningitis FAQ. http://www.hamptonu.edu/studentservices/health/meningitis.cfm. Accessed December 8, 2014