Health officials have voted to recommend vaccination for younger adolescents ages 11 to 12, adolescents at high school entry age 15 and college freshmen living in dorms to help protect against a potentially fatal bacterial infection called Meningococcal Disease. The new recommendations were made in light of the availability of a new vaccine for meningitis, expected to provide longer term protection against the disease. Experts estimate up to 80 percent of adolescent and young adult Meningococcal Disease can be prevented through vaccination. Doctor Susan Rehm, Medical Director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases:
"I've treated adolescents with meningococcal meningitis. It's scary because early symptoms resemble the flu and prompt diagnosis is critical and that's why immunization is so important. N-F-I-D supports these recommendations, which will help protect children."
Although rare, meningococcal meningitis can progress rapidly and lead to limb amputation, brain damage, hearing loss and even death. For more information, talk to your health care provider or visit n-f-i-d-dot-org.
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