Meningococcal Meningitis Disease

Meningococcal meningitis disease is a serious, potentially fatal illness caused by bacteria. Symptoms may resemble the flu but progress rapidly and can often cause death within two days. For those that survive, long term effects can include brain damage, seizures, hearing loss or limb amputations.

Meningitis is contagious and is spread through air droplets and direct contact with infected persons. It can be spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing or sharing items like drinking glasses, lip balm, eating utensils or cigarettes.

Adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of contracting this disease. The reason for the increased risk may be due to lifestyle factors common among these age groups, such as living in crowded situations (dormitories), going to bars, smoking, and irregular sleep habits.

However, the majority of cases among adolescents are preventable by vaccination. The vaccine is a covered benefit, paid for by most major insurance companies and Medicaid. Additionally, the vaccine is available to VFC-eligible children that meet the ACIP recommended coverage groups listed below. Children through 18 years of age who meet at least one of the following criteria are considered VFC-eligible:

• Medicaid eligible: A child who is eligible for the Medicaid program. (For the purposes of the VFC program the terms Medicaid-eligible and Medicaid-enrolled are equivalent and refer to children who have health insurance covered by a state Medicaid program)
• Uninsured: A child who has no health insurance coverage
• Indian (American Indian or Alaska Native): As defined by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603)
• Underinsured: Children who have commercial (private) health insurance but the coverage does not include vaccines, children whose insurance covers only selected vaccines (VFC-eligible for non-covered vaccines only), or children whose insurance

Meningococcal immunization is recommended for the following age groups:

• Adolescents aged 11-12 year old,
• Adolescents at high school entry (15 years old), or
• College freshman, through 18 years of age, who live in dormitories, or
• Children 11 > years of age who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease.

In addition to being vaccinated, young adults can reduce their risk for contracting the disease by not sharing eating utensils, beverages, cigarettes, etc.

For medical advice about meningococcal immunization, consult your physician, college health service or local public health department.

Meningitis Information:

• Informative flyer for high school seniors
• Meningococcal Meningitis Frequently Asked Questions
• Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet - (color) (8/11/10)
• Meningococcal Disease Fact Sheet - (black & white) (8/11/10)
• Get S.M.A.R.T about Meningitis - School Meningitis Awareness Resource Tools

Meningococcal Television Public Service Announcement (PSA)

The North Carolina Immunization Branch would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their assistance in the creation and distribution of the meningococcal television public service announcement:
Department of Public Instruction: Paula Collins
Original Productions, LLC: Mark Copeland
Wake County Emergency Medical Services: Jeffrey Hammerstein, Dwayne Tant, Quentin Riffle
Wake County Medical Society: Paul Harrison
William G. Enloe High School: Curry Leslie, Dana Vaughn, Tucker Idol, Natalie Sprague, Scott Snyder
Woman's Club of Raleigh: Julia Carpenter, Barbara Volk, Beverly Shearon
Cora Harrison
Eric & Gail Vaughn