ACIP Reminds about Meningococcal Vaccination
August 10, 2007
ACIP Reminds about Meningococcal Vaccination
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices called attention today
to the advisability of vaccinating all persons aged 11-18 years against
meningoccal disease. That would include routinely vaccinating children
at their 11-12 years health visits, the ACIP said, and vaccinating
young people at the time of entry into high school (approximately age
15) if they missed the earlier immunization. It is also important, the
ACIP pointed out, that college freshmen be vaccinated at the time of
entry into college, where they will be at increased risk for
meningococcal disease as the result of living in dormitories. The ACIP
expects this year's supply of the vaccine, MCV4 to be sufficient to
meet the peak in demand that occurs when children are returning to
school after summer vacation. The committee advises that MCV4 and Tdap
(tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis)
vaccines be administered during the same visit, but if simultaneous
vaccination is not possible, MCV4 and Tdap can be administered in any
order. "The goal is routine vaccination of all adolescents with MCV4
beginning at age 11," the ACIP said. The revised recommendations of the
Advisory Committee on Immunization are available as part of the
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report for August 10, 2007, at www.cdc.gov/mmwr.