Meningococcal conjugate vaccines have several advantages over polysaccharide vaccines, including the ability to induce greater antibody persistence, avidity, immunologic memory, and herd immunity. Meningitis vaccines meningitis research foundation. We have some tips to help you protect yourself against meningitis while at uni. The western australian government has a free acwy vaccine for 1 4 year olds. Meningitis acyw vaccination meningococcal meningitis. Nimenrix is indicated for active immunisation of individuals from the age of 6 weeks against invasive meningococcal diseases caused by neisseria meningitidis group a, c, w5, and y. For example, sometimes it is not clear what vaccines a child may have gotten in the past. The northern territory vaccinates between 12 months and 19 years. Meningitis acwy vaccine is advised if close contact with locals is expected in risk areas.
Serogroup a and the less common w5 can cause serious epidemics which occur predominantly in the african meningitis belt from senegal in the west to. The most typical symptom of meningitis is a skin rash, which occurs in many but not all cases. Introduction of a meningococcal acwy programme for adolescents. Jcvi advice about menw disease and the menacwy quadrivalent conjugate. Meningococcal meningitis is spread by droplet infection through close personal contact. Pgd template to support the national meningococcal group a,c,w and y menveo or nimenrix vaccination programme.
Meningococcal disease is a rare, but potentially devastating infection in travellers caused by the bacterium neisseria meningitidis the most common forms of meningococcal disease are meningitis infection of the protective lining around the brain and spine and septicaemia blood poisoning. Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by a number of different virus and bacteria. Should i worry if my son was accidentally given several. Introduction of a meningococcal acwy programme for. Immunisation consists of 1 dose given at 12 months of age as the haemophilus influenzae type b with meningococcal group c vaccine and a second dose given at 15 years of age as the meningococcal groups a with c and w5 and y vaccine. The revised chapter on meningococcal disease in immunisation against infectious disease the green book will be available shortly at. There are different serogroups of meningitis of which groups b and c are most common in the uk. Meningitis acwy vaccination superdrug health clinic. Six strains are responsible for epidemics worldwidea, b. There are times when a child may get an extra vaccine dose.
But there seems to be confusion about how to get the jab. Meningitis bacterial meningitis and meningococcal disease. You should ideally get your meningitis acwy vaccination at least 2 weeks before starting at university so you are immune before coming to bristol. Immunisation against infectious disease the green book latest edition.
People under the age of 25 going to uni for the first time are also being offered the vaccine. Young people aged 14 and above across the uk are being offered free menacwy vaccine to combat a rapid rise in a deadly strain of menw meningococcal w meningitis and septicaemia. Individuals requiring vaccination for occupational health reasons, eg laboratory workers working with meningococci, should be referred to their occupational health service provider for vaccination. A gram stain of cerebrospinal fluid csf showing gramnegative diplococci strongly suggests meningococcal meningitis. Should i worry if my son was accidentally given several vaccines twice. Pfizer enters into agreement to acquire nimenrix and. Meningococcal bacteria are carried in the nose and throat of healthy individuals and are spread through. The meningitis acwy vaccines offers protection against 4 types of bacteria that can cause meningitis. The cdc recommends that people not at increased meningococcal. Meningococcal group w meningitis research foundation. Some adults may need another type of meningitis vaccine, the serogroup b meningococcal vaccine, if they. Neisseria meningitidis, a gramnegative diplococcal bacterium, is a common asymptomatic nasopharyngeal colonizer that may infrequently lead to invasive disease in the form of meningitis or bacteremia. In addition to the traditional meningitis c vaccine, there is a meningitis acwy vaccine, which provides protection against all four meningitis types included in its name.
A different meningococcal vaccine is available that can help protect against serogroup b. It is not intended to provide or take the place of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you use assistive technology such as a screen reader and need a version of. Meningitis can affect anyone however children and young adults are most at risk. Meningococcal meningitis vaccine immunisation patient. Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a type of bacteria called neisseria meningitidis. The meningitis b vaccination does not provide cover for types a,c,w and y but these can be administered by a separate meningitis acwy vaccination. Meningococcal groups acwy menacwy vaccine in the uk and ireland.
Meningococcal is a rare but life threatening disease. Meningococcal disease is typically diagnosed by isolation of n. Meningitis now have assembled the most common faqs on the meningococcal acwy vaccine, its history, development and. Increased risk of disease occurs in specific population groups including infants. Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal acwy immunisation programme for adolescents. Before the introduction of the meningitis c menc vaccine in 2000, groups b and c caused most cases of meningococcal. The menacwy vaccine offers protection against the four groups of meningococcal bacteria a, c, w and y. However, sensitivity of bacterial culture may be low, particularly when performed after initiation of antibiotic therapy. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and is caused by bacteria. There are different groups of the neisseria meningitidis bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria neiserria meningitidis, of which there are around 12 strains.
Meningococcal meningitis is an acute bacterial disease that can cause systemic infection. Making sure your children are immunised against meningitis is the best way to combat and provide excellent protection against most forms of the disease. In this short film from university of oxford, experts and a mother whose child was disabled by menb infection meningococcal b disease. This inflammation can be caused by viruses and fungi, as. Bbc radio 4 inside health, meningitis acwy vaccine. South australia has the free acwy for 12 month olds and 1419 year olds as well as meningococcal b for 6 weeks 4 years and 1521 years. Travellers visiting higher risk regions are recommended to have the conjugate acwy vaccine menveo or nimenrix if their planned activities put them at increased risk see above. This fact sheet provides basic information for the public. Strains b and c are mainly responsible for outbreaks in industrialised countries, whereas strains a and w5 occur in the meningitis belt of sub saharan. It can lead to meningitis infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord and infections of the blood. There are certain bacteria that teenagers and students are at more risk from they are known as meningococcal men a, b, c, w and y.
In order to further support the meningococcal acwy immunisation programme for adolescents nhs education for scotland in partnership with health protection scotland has revised itsresources for registered healthcare practitioners. Individuals requiring vaccination solely for the purpose of travel are. Meningococcal vaccine treatment summary bnf content. Meningococcal group c conjugate vaccine provides longterm protection against infection by serogroup c of neisseria meningitidis. Meningococcal infections figure 7 from meningococcal infections in red book.
There is a marked seasonal variation in meningococcal disease, with peak levels in the winter months declining to low levels by late summer. Meningococcal acwy vaccination menacwy men acwy scottish immunisation programme for 201920. Get expert advice on symptoms, causes and treatment. Vaccines will be delivered through schools, community health centres and immunisation clinics. A free meningococcal acwy vaccine is available for children aged 1 to 4 and young people 15 to 19 years of age.
Meningitis poses a particular risk to students make sure youre uptodate on what you need to know. Preventing meningitis and septicaemia blood poisoning caused by groups a, c, w 5 and y meningococcal bacteria. Meningococcal disease is a rare but severe infection that occurs when meningococcal bacteria invade the body from the throat or nose. Meningococcal acwy vaccine can help protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups a, c, w, and y. This bacterial infection can cause meningitis inflammation of the lining around the brain and septicaemia blood poisoning. It can cause blood poisoning that can lead to permanent damage to the brain or nerves. Nimenrix should be used in accordance with available official recommendations. You can call if you are feeling ill and unsure what to do. Introduction of a meningococcal acwy programme for adolescents information for healthcare professionals these training resources have been prepared with reference to the version of public health englands immunisation against infectious disease. Meningitis acwy vaccination students health service. Young teenagers, sixth formers and fresher students going to university for the first time are advised to have the vaccination. The meningitis acwy vaccine was introduced last year to protect teenagers from year 9 in school to those starting university or college. The word meningitis refers to inflammation of the tissues covering the brain and spinal cord. Six serogroups a, b, c, w, x and y are responsible for the majority of invasive infections.
Meningococcal disease vaccination schedules for travel from public health england green book. Be aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis meningitis and measles, mumps and rubella mmr vaccination. If you think that you, or someone you know, is displaying symptoms of meningitis seek medical help immediately at your nearest hospital. Those working with children, or the local population or those visiting families with children, are at higher risk.
1102 423 486 1176 310 1379 1106 486 1189 1579 232 475 740 96 1349 790 1505 39 881 1666 838 836 608 1095 476 877 1333 1139 499 758 809 489 579 208 339 1211 511 489