Questions about the CDC/ACIP 2005 Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendation
Q. What is meningococcal disease?
A. Meningococcal disease (MCD) is a potentially life-threatening
bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis, a common bacterium.
These bacteria can invade the body to infect the lining of the brain
(causing meningitis) or the bloodstream (meningococcemia). Invasive
disease is sometimes fatal unless recognized and treated promptly.
Brain damage, hearing loss, loss of limbs, or kidney failure can
also occur.
Q. Who is at risk for meningococcal disease?
A. Persons can develop disease at any age and everyone is potentially
at risk. MCD is relatively rare, occurring at an overall rate of
about 1 in 100,000 people in the United States. The highest rates
occur in infants, but another peak of incidence is seen in adolescents.
College students living in dormitories, particularly freshman, are
at a moderately increased risk of developing meningococcal disease
compared with other college students.
Q. What is the new recommendation for meningococcal vaccination?
A. In February 2005, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices recommended that all adolescents entering middle school,
all adolescents entering high school, and all college freshmen living
in dormitories receive a newly licensed meningococcal vaccine.
Q. What prompted this recommendation?
A. In January, 2005 the Food and Drug Administration approved a
new meningococcal vaccine (Menactra®)
for use in the United States that will benefit all adolescents and
young adults. Prior to 2005, the existing recommendation was only
that college students should “consider” vaccination, since the previous
vaccine was not as effective and did not provide long-term immunity.
Q. How is the new vaccine better than the old vaccine?
A. The new vaccine is a conjugate vaccine and offers improved efficacy
with a longer duration of protection. Unlike the previous vaccine,
it is not likely to require repeated doses. In addition, the new
vaccine protects against infection, not just disease. This means
that it prevents people from becoming carriers of the meningococcal
bacteria and can reduce transmission from person to person.
Q. What are the benefits and limitations of the vaccine?
A. The new meningococcal vaccine is estimated to be 90 to 95 percent
effective in preventing meningococcal disease caused by four common
strains of the bacteria. However, about 30 percent of cases in adolescents
and college students are caused by a strain (serogroup B) that
is not included in any vaccine. Unfortunately, researchers have
not been able to make an effective vaccine to use against serogroup B
meningococcal disease. Because of this limitation, vaccination reduces
the overall risk of developing meningococcal disease by about 65
percent. This vaccine does not provide any protection against other
types of bacterial or viral meningitis.
Q. Does Dowell Health Center offer the new vaccine?
A. Yes. Dowell Health Center has the new conjugate vaccine vaccine
in stock and will provide it to students requesting vaccination.
If there is a shortage of the new vaccine, we will continue to offer
the previous vaccine as an alternative while our current supply
lasts. We will eventually convert over to using only the new vaccine.
Q. How much will it cost?
A. The price of the new conjugate vaccine is $95.
Q. How can a student get the vaccine?
A. Towson University students should call Dowell Health Center at
to schedule an appointment. New entering students may also get their
vaccine at the Health Center before or during TUCares. Call for
more information: 410-704-2466.
Q. If a student received the old vaccine should they be revaccinated?
A. No. The previous vaccine provides 3 to 5 years of protection,
which is adequate for most college students. Since the primary risk
for disease is among freshman, revaccination after the first year
of college would provide little benefit. However, if a student was
first immunized more than three years prior to beginning college,
they may wish to be revaccinated. We encourage these students to
discuss their situation with their family health care provider.
Q. Is the new vaccine safe?
A. Yes. The technology used to make conjugate vaccines is the same
as several other vaccines given to children and has a proven safety
record. Like most vaccines, mild soreness may occur in the arm where
the shot was given. Serious problems such as allergic reactions
are very rare. It cannot cause meningococcal infection or disease.
Q. What is Dowell Health Center doing to inform students about
this recommendation?
A. Dowell Health Center has updated the information about meningococcal
disease and vaccination on its web site to reflect the new recommendation.
All new entering students receive written information about current
vaccine recommendations from Dowell Health Center and are asked
to provide us with their immunization records. In addition, we provide
written materials about meningococcal disease to all students who
live in university residence halls.
Q. What is the anticipated impact on Dowell Health Center and
Towson University?
A. Currently, about 85 percent of Towson University students living
in on-campus housing receive meningococcal vaccine. The new recommendation
may increase that number. Because of the impetus to begin vaccinating
high school students, we would expect that more than 95 percent
of entering freshman will have been vaccinated by the fall of 2009.
In the short term, there may be increased demand among current undergraduates
to get the new vaccine, but the Dowell Health Center will have the
vaccine available for students wishing to be immunized..
Q. Will this eliminate meningococcal disease in college students?
A. No. As noted above, a significant proportion of cases are caused
by serogroup B, and sporadic cases of meningococcal disease
can still be expected to occur. For that reason, it is still important
to inform students about the signs and symptoms of this disease
and not to discount symptoms solely because of prior vaccination.
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