Meningococcal vaccines .. What Is Meningococcal Disease?

Meningitec vaccine .. other meningococcal vaccines  .. RCH vaccine sheet pdf
A  vaccine "Meningitec, Neisvac & others" are now available for the prevention of meningococcal C infection. Nb. Overseas travel

Incidence  - The incidence of meningococcal disease in Australia is highest in infants under 4 years of age. The next highest risk group is young people aged 15 to 19 years. Whilst the incidence is greatest in the under 4's, mortality for group C disease is highest in the teenage years.

Precaution - Meningitec will only confer protection against group C of Neisseria meningitidis. It will not protect against other groups of Neisseria meningitidis or other organisms that cause meningitis or septicaemia.

Dosage - Infants - 6 weeks - 12 months: 0.5 mL IMI in anterolateral thigh; 3 doses greater than or equal to 1 month apart;
Children > 12 months & adults: 0.5 mL IMI as single dose in deltoid (upper arm)

Efficacy - The vaccine ability to prevent  invasive meningococcal C disease was reported to be 97%  in a study of teenagers between 15 and 17 years of age and 92% in a study of toddlers in the first 12 months. The duration of antibody persistence (beyond 12 months) following vaccination with Meningitec and the duration of protection are currently unknown. Also the need and appropriate time for revaccination is also not known.

Side-effects  - Local reaction; fever; irritability; tiredness; restlessness; headache; GI upset; anorexia; myalgia occured more commonly with adults

Interactions -  Meningitec can be administered at the same time as oral polio vaccine (OPV), hepatitis B vaccine (HBV), Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine, diphtheria tetanus whole cell pertussis - Haemophilus b conjugate (DTP-Hib), diphtheria tetanus acellular pertussis (DTPa), diphtheria tetanus (DT), tetanus low dose diphtheria (Td) and measles mumps rubella (MMR) vaccines if this fits conveniently in the immunisation scheme.