Although rare, meningococcal meningitis is a potentially devastating disease that can be spread from child to child through everyday activities such as sharing a drink, a snack or an innocent kiss with a friend.
Your child may already be partially covered against meningococcal meningitis. Most provinces and territories have implemented publicly funded immunization programs to help protect against this disease. However, most of the programs currently in place recommend coverage against only one strain of meningococcal meningitis, strain C.
There are actually five dominant strains of meningococcal meningitis: A, B, C, Y and W-135. Strain B is not vaccine-preventable. Four of these strains — A, C, Y and W-135 — are vaccine-preventable.
Meningococcal meningitis begins with flu-like symptoms and then worsens to include neck stiffness, high fever, light sensitivity, confusion, headaches or vomiting, and results can range from full recovery to disability or death. Up to 10% of cases are typically fatal within 24 to 48 hours after symptoms appear. Among survivors, 11% to 19% will suffer permanent disabilities such as hearing loss, neurological damage, limb loss and paralysis.
Is there a way you can help protect your child or teen against all four vaccine-preventable strains of meningitis? The answer is yes — MENACTRA®. Speak with your doctor about immunizing your child or teen against meningococcal meningitis.
MENACTRA® is a vaccine used to prevent meningitis and other meningococcal diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis (strains A, C, Y and W-135). This vaccine may be used in persons 2 to 55 years old. As with all vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.
