An advisory panel for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that infants with a high risk of contracting meningococcal disease receive the meningitis vaccine when they are 9 months old.
At-risk infants include those who travel to or live in countries outside the United States where the disease is common, as well as those with certain immune deficiencies.
The panel will vote on widespread use of the meningococcal vaccine among infants in 2012. It is currently given to children who are 11 or 12 years old, and is also recommended for college students living in dormitories.
According to the National Meningitis Association, about 1,500 Americans contract meningococcal disease every year. Adolescents and young adults have an increased risk of contracting the disease and account for 15% of all cases.
- Principles of vaccination
- General recommendations on immunization
- Immunization strategies for healthcare practices and providers
- Vaccine safety
- Child/adult immunization schedules
Order the Pink Book to learn how to effectively address meningitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases in your community. Visit the Public Health Foundation’s (PHF)
Online Store, call 1-877-252-1200, or fax (301) 843-0159.
PHF’s Immunization ID ContestIdentify the four scientists on the cover of the 12th Edition Pink Book for a chance to win a box of 16 free Pink Books with PHF’s
Immunization ID Contest. Contest ends July 31, 2011.