From the Guidelines
No, the meningococcal vaccine cannot cause meningococcemia or Neisseria meningitidis infection. The vaccines available for meningococcal disease contain either inactivated bacterial components or purified proteins from the bacteria, not live organisms. These components stimulate the immune system to develop protection against future exposure to the actual bacteria but cannot cause the disease itself.
Key Points
- The vaccines work by introducing specific parts of the bacteria's outer coating (polysaccharides) or proteins to your immune system, allowing it to recognize and fight the bacteria if exposed later.
- Some people may experience mild side effects after vaccination such as soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever, or fatigue, but these are immune responses to the vaccine components, not an actual meningococcal infection.
- Meningococcal vaccination is recommended for adolescents, college students living in dormitories, military recruits, and others at higher risk of meningococcal disease, as outlined in guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 1.
Recommendations
- The ACIP recommends quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine for all persons aged 11–18 years and for persons aged 2–55 years who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease 1.
- Persons at increased risk for meningococcal disease include college freshmen living in dormitories, microbiologists who are exposed routinely to isolates of Neisseria meningitidis, military recruits, and persons who travel to or reside in countries where meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic 1.
- Revaccination with MCV4 is recommended for persons previously vaccinated with either MCV4 or MPSV4 who are at prolonged increased risk for meningococcal disease, with the timing of revaccination depending on the age at previous vaccination and the level of risk 1.
From the Research
Meningococcal Vaccine and Meningiococcemia
- The meningococcal vaccine is designed to prevent meningiococcemia, which is an infection caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- There is no evidence to suggest that the meningococcal vaccine can precipitate the occurrence of meningiococcemia 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- In fact, studies have shown that the meningococcal vaccine is effective in reducing the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and pharyngeal Neisseria meningitidis carriage 4, 5.
Vaccine Effectiveness
- Meningococcal conjugate C, ACWY, and outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines have been shown to be effective in reducing IMD 5.
- Monovalent C conjugate vaccines have also been found to reduce pharyngeal N. meningitidis carriage 5.
- However, there is no evidence to suggest that multivalent MenACWY, OMV, or recombinant MenB vaccines reduce carriage 5.