What is the Menactra Booster Dose?
The Menactra vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine against meningococcal disease.
Why is This Booster Dose Important?
Meningococcal disease, which most commonly affects teens and young adults, can be deadly and rapidly progressive. Between 1000 and 2600 cases of meningococcal disease occur in the United States annually.1
Two forms of this illness are 1) Meningitis, an infection in the brain and spinal cord fluid and; 2) Septicemia, which is blood poisoning. Although rare, meningitis can be devastating. Within hours of the first symptoms, there can be organ failure, brain damage or loss of limbs.
Who Needs the Menactra Booster?
- Adolescents and persons at high risk for meningococcal disease (people without the function of a spleen or who have complement deficiency or HIV positive).
- Kids who are 11-12 years old, who will also need a booster shot at 16. If your child got their Menactra vaccine at 13-15 years old, they should get their booster at 16-18. If your child is 16 or older it is likely they need a booster soon.
- Unvaccinated college freshman should receive one dose.
For more information about this vaccine, please see this information sheet provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Please contact us (859) 525-8181, if you have any questions about the Menactra Booster or any other matter relating to your child’s health.
1 http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-mening.pdf. Accessed August 2011.