Meningococcal Meningitis

There are two different types of meningococcal vaccine: one to protect against the ACW and Y groups (MenACWY) and the other covers the B strain (MenB).

For infants, the number of doses for both meningococcal meningitis vaccination types depends on the age when first administered and the vaccine brand. See more information for ACWY and B strain vaccination in this age group.

With adolescents aged 15 to 19 years, a course of two vaccinations protects against the B strain, and there is a single dose for the ACWY groups, which offers protection for around 5 years.

For the purposes of travel, booster doses of ACWY vaccines are recommended following the primary course if at continued risk of meningococcal infection. The timeframe depends on the age when that ACWY primary course was completed (this also applies to people at risk of invasive meningococcal disease):

• If aged 6 years or younger, the first booster dose is due after 3 years and then every 5 years after that. If the person was 7 years of age or older, then the interval is 5 years for booster doses if still at risk.

Bacterial meningococcal disease is a very serious infection that can cause severe scarring, loss of limbs, brain damage and death.

The ACWY meningococcal meningitis vaccine for children at 12 months of age is a requirement of the ‘no jab, no play’ legislation for enrolment in childcare on a national level in Australia. There are further requirements for the individual states and territories. More information here.

While there is a general recommendation for anyone who wants to protect themselves or their young children from 6 weeks of age against meningococcal disease to receive the MenACWY vaccine and MenB vaccine, the advice provided in the Australian Immunisation Handbook is more robust for the following groups to be vaccinated with meningococcal meningitis vaccines:

• Infants and children under 2 years of age
• Healthy adolescents aged 15–19 years
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 2 months to 19 years
• People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease
• Laboratory workers
• Travellers to areas where meningococcal disease is more common or who travel to mass gatherings such as the Hajj.

In the United States, vaccination for meningococcal meningitis is required of all entering college students.

The strong recommendation for meningococcal meningitis vaccination (both MenACWY and MenB):

• Children aged under 2 years of age who have the highest rate of invasive meningococcal disease
• Adolescents aged 15-19 years have a high rate of IMD, and they play an important role in the transmission of the infection due to their high rates of carriage, whereby the Neisseria meningitides bacteria colonise the upper respiratory tract without causing invasive disease.
• All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 2 months to 19 years as they are at substantially higher risk for meningococcal disease than non-indigenous people
• People with specified medical conditions that increase the risk of meningococcal disease, e.g. those who have certain blood disorders, with weakened immune systems (such as without a functioning spleen), people living with HIV and those who have had a stem cell transplant.  
• Adolescents and young adults (age 15-24 years) who are living in close conditions (e.g. military recruits or in residential accommodation) as meningococcal bacteria are carried and spread more frequently in these populations.
• Adolescents and young adults (age 15-24 years) who are current smokers as they have a higher risk of carrying the meningococcal bacteria.
• People travelling to countries where there is an increased risk of exposure to meningococcal disease, in particular, the ‘meningitis belt ‘of sub-Saharan Africa

Specifically required for pilgrims attending the annual Hajj in Mecca

Apart from the recommendations for adults to receive meningococcal vaccination for specific medical conditions and travel, the advice is for anyone who wants to protect themselves against invasive meningococcal disease to receive MenACWY and MenB vaccines (from as early as 6 weeks of age).

The 2 types of meningococcal/meningitis vaccines offer protection against the ACWY and B strains of Neisseria bacteria that can cause meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord). A pneumococcal vaccine is routinely administered to infants and young children, which helps to prevent pneumococcal meningitis, a rare complication of invasive pneumococcal disease.

Transmission is through close contact and by droplets - through saliva, mucous, kissing, sharing eating utensils, coughing and sneezing. This is a concern particularly in day-care centres, schools, college dormitories or with young adults in close living conditions. It is also a risk if travelling in areas that have an outbreak of meningococcal disease. Transmission is possible from a person who is showing symptoms of meningococcal infection, but it can also occur from asymptomatic carriers.

Meningococcal infection is a medical emergency as it can be rapidly fatal. Antibiotics are effective in the treatment of invasive meningococcal disease if they are administered early, often before Neisseria bacteria are identified, in order to prevent severe infection. Even with antibiotics, around 10 percent of cases will experience long-term complications, and approximately 10 - 15 percent of cases result in death.

Close contacts of confirmed meningococcal cases are also given a course of antibiotics to protect them from developing the infection.

Bacterial meningitis is generally treated by antibiotics, with the length of time for recovery varying between individuals. Most people recover within 7-10 days if they have not developed complications.

None of the vaccines used for any disease is guaranteed to work one hundred percent of the time and they don’t necessarily fully protect you against new strains of the various infectious diseases, including meningococcal meningitis. So it’s best not to be complacent since there is still a chance that people vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis may develop the disease.

Researchers have found that suggests meningococcal meningitis vaccines may be less effective when given to people taking some specific types of medications for blood disorders. Check with your specialist for meningococcal meningitis vaccination recommendations and be aware of the symptoms of meningococcal disease. If you do have symptoms, as in all cases of suspected meningococcal meningitis seek medical care straight away.