From the Guidelines
A booster shot is indicated for individuals with increased risk for invasive meningococcal disease, and the age for booster shots varies based on the individual's risk factors and initial vaccination schedule, with boosters recommended every 5 years for those 7 years and older 1.
Key Points to Consider
- The primary vaccination schedule and booster shots are crucial for preventing meningococcal disease, especially in high-risk individuals.
- For individuals aged 7 years and older who are at increased risk, a booster dose should be given every 5 years after the primary vaccination series 1.
- The specific vaccine used (e.g., MenACWY-D, MenACWY-CRM, MenACWY-TT) and the timing of the booster dose depend on factors such as age, health status, and previous vaccination history.
Booster Shot Recommendations
- For children under 7 years at increased risk, a booster dose is recommended 3 years after primary vaccination and every 5 years thereafter 1.
- Adolescents who received their first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 11 to 12 years of age should receive a booster dose at 16 to 18 years of age, at least 8 weeks or up to 5 years after their first dose 1.
- Unvaccinated or previously vaccinated first-year college students through age 21 years living in residence halls who received their last dose before their 16th birthday should receive a single dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine 1.
Important Considerations
- Individuals with persistent complement component deficiency or functional or anatomic asplenia require a tailored vaccination approach, including a 2-dose primary series for those 2 to 55 years of age 1.
- The vaccination schedule should be adjusted based on the individual's risk factors, such as travel to areas with hyperendemic or epidemic meningococcal disease, or residence in a community with a meningococcal outbreak 1.
From the Research
Booster Shot Indications
- A booster shot is indicated for individuals greater than 65 years of age for pneumococcal vaccination, as the vaccine effectiveness was 24% (95% CI, −24 to 54; P = 0.33) 2
- For tetanus vaccination, a booster dose is recommended every ten years, and the administration of tetanus immunoglobulins in subjects not vaccinated in the last 10 years seems justified by the epidemiology of tetanus in Italy 3
- Influenza vaccination is recommended for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications, but there is no specific booster shot indication for a certain age group 4, 5
- Zoster vaccine should be offered to all persons 60 years of age or older unless contraindications or precautions exist 6
Vaccine Effectiveness
- The effectiveness of the influenza vaccination in preventing influenza-related acute respiratory illness was 76% overall, with varying effectiveness for different categories of COPD severity 2
- The pneumococcal vaccination had a vaccine effectiveness of 24% (95% CI, −24 to 54; P = 0.33) overall, but was more effective in certain subgroups such as patients less than 65 years of age 2
Safety and Administration
- The safety of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines was evaluated, with local and systemic adverse reactions reported, but no significant differences in serious adverse events between vaccine and control groups 2
- Influenza vaccines can be coadministered with other vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, but should be administered in separate anatomic sites 5