4. Some people should not get meningococcal vaccine or should wait.
Anyone who has ever had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of either meningococcal vaccine should not get another dose.
Anyone who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any vaccine component should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies.
Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should probably wait until they recover. Ask your doctor or nurse. People with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
Meningococcal vaccines may be given to pregnant women. However, Menactra is a new vaccine and has not been studied in pregnant women as much as Menomune has. It should be used only if clearly needed.
Meningococcal vaccines may be given at the same time as other vaccines.
5. What are the risks from meningococcal vaccine?
A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of meningococcal vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
Mild problems
Up to about half of people who get meningococcal vaccines have mild side effects, such as redness or pain where the shot was given.
If these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days. They are more common after Menactra than after Menomune.
A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine develop a fever.
Severe problems
Serious allergic reactions, within a few minutes to a few hours of the shot, are very rare.
6. What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?
What should I look for?
Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
What should I do?
Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form.
Or you can file this report through the VAERS web site at vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
VAERS does not provide medical advice.
7. How can I learn more?
Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
Call your local or state health department.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.):
Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-C.D.C. I.N.F.O.)
Visit C.D.C.’s National Immunization Program website at www.cdc.gov/nip
Visit C.D.C.’s meningococcal disease website at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_meningitis.htm.
Visit C.D.C.’s Travelers’ Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/.
Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Immunization Program
Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)
April 4, 2005
Previous > Meningitis Vaccine Information Statement - Part 1
|
