Bacterial meningitis vaccine – Things you should know

Bacterial meningitis vaccine can prevent some types of bacteria that cause bacterial meningitis. Just like other vaccine, it can block the disease by preparing the human body to receipt the bacterial attack. Someone who injected with the vaccine, latter the body will create specific antibody, a defense system to encounter the disease cause.

Since the affected number in the United States is pretty high, the government in several states encourages the citizen to get bacterial meningitis vaccine. Texas is among about a dozen states that now requiring the vaccine for all new students who live on campus. There are about 1,500 cases of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. every year, according to the Texas Medical Association.

The bacterial meningitis symptoms start to appear once the bacteria such as Neisseria meningitides start to invade the brain and spinal cord membrane and cause inflammation at the membrane. Symptoms may vary depend of the severity of the disease. Including to the symptoms are headache, high fever, neck stiffness, sensitive to bright lights, vomiting and nausea.

Bacterial meningitis vaccine types in the U.S.

According to Health Daily Website, in the Unites States, there are two types of the vaccine that can prevent bacterial meningitis, this vaccine protect about 90 percent of the people who receive it. Below are the two vaccines in the U.S.

1. Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune or MPSV4). This vaccine starts to use since the mid-1970s. This vaccine is dedicated for elders over age 55.

2. Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra or MCV4). This vaccine can be use by people with age between 2 to 55 years. This version of the vaccine is the newer variant of vaccine for bacterial meningitis.

The dark side of vaccines for bacterial meningitis

Just like other medication, this bacterial meningitis vaccine comes with risks. Common reported case of vaccine side effects are include redness and pain at the shot location, a report also reported that fever and allergic reaction has been found as one of the side effect of the vaccine.