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New Vaccine for Teens and Tweens!
Beaver Medical Group Patient Newsletter 2005
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by Varonica Dixon, M.D. - Pediatrics Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious bacterial infection that strikes about 2,600 Americans every year. Approximately 10% of them will die of sepsis or meningitis, the survivors may lose limbs, hearing, or have other neurologic problems. The symptoms begin like the flu, but rapidly progress and can kill a healthy young person in less than 48 hours. Recent studies have shown that 15 - 20 year olds actually have a 20% mortality rate. The recommendations take into account the phasing in of this vaccine over the next 5 years. There cannot be enough vaccine produced to vaccinate every 11-20 year-old in the U.S. The new vaccine has several benefits over older vaccine (Menomune): Menactra has improved duration of protection, it induces immunologic memory, allows for a booster response, and reduces the carrier state. The vaccine is a conjugated vaccine, similar to the ProHIB vaccine introduced in 1987 which has reduced the incidence of invasive HIB disease among young children by 98%. It won’t prevent all disease, but it is expected to reduce the number of cases by over 60%. The most common adverse effects from the vaccine are pain, redness, and induration at the site of injection, headache, fatigue, and malaise. Menactra vaccine should not be given to persons with known hypersensitivity to any component of the vaccine or to latex, which is used in the vial stopper. Now the difficult part, let’s get all of the 11-12 and 15-16-year-olds in for their physicals, so we can give them the good news that we have one more vaccine for them! (I know they’ll be thrilled;) The other ways to reduce the chances of getting this infection are to avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and please, don’t share drinks with your friends! |
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