infectious disease
Why We Must Preserve The Meningococcal Vaccination Schedule
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As a retired nurse with decades of experience on the front lines of health care, I have witnessed firsthand the incredible impact that vaccinations have on children's health and well-being. Throughout my career, I cared for countless young patients, and the difference vaccinations made was undeniable.
Vaccinations are not merely a preventive measure; they are a fundamental pillar of public health that all children should have access to, safeguarding our children against a host of potentially life-threatening diseases including meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease can lead to serious complications. It is a bacterial infection that can result in sepsis and in the worst cases, death. Luckily, the vaccination schedule for children that was put in place in the early 2000s has kept the vast majority of our children protected against this disease.
The current vaccination schedule is set up to protect children when they're most vulnerable. The first dose is scheduled for ages 11-12, with a second dose set for age 16. The early dose is crucial to protecting adolescents when they're most susceptible to contracting the disease given that meningococcal disease is transmitted through close contact like sharing drinks and it is around this age that children begin to participate in social activities that would expose them to this disease.
Despite the success of the current vaccination schedule, the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is considering a drastic change. The new proposed schedule change would eliminate the first dose entirely, leaving adolescents completely vulnerable to the disease until age 16.
Not only would young adolescents be unprotected for a longer period of time, but by age 16, it is more difficult to get teenagers to engage with their health care providers. Vaccination coverage rates change considerably between these age groups, with 89% of 11-12 year olds being vaccinated while only 61% of older adolescents are. This is presumably due to the fact that they are less likely to attend their routine medical visits.
A change in vaccination schedules for children can also cause confusion amongst parents and families, and in rural areas like the ones I've worked in, a trip to the doctor is not an easy task. Parents should know that when they take their children to doctor's appointments, they'll be receiving all the vaccinations they need for their children to be safe and healthy. This unprompted change to the meningococcal vaccine schedule would also create more distrust and skepticism in communities that already feel hesitancy toward their health care providers.
The combination of a pandemic, new vaccines, and a rise in misinformation has led so many to doubt the need for on-schedule vaccinations. Now, more than ever, we need proper guidance for families to be able to protect their children. That is why it is vital to maintain the current meningococcal vaccination schedule for children.
Delaying the first dose of this vaccine will only lead to more adolescents slipping through the cracks and missing the vaccine altogether, leaving them vulnerable to this dangerous and oftentimes deadly disease. It is critical that the CDC and the ACIP recognize the harm that this change could cause and avoid altering the current vaccination schedule to continue protecting our children.
Sharon Spinella of Wethersfield is a retired nurse who spent many years working with diverse populations in urban hospitals.
What Is Meningococcal Disease? Symptoms To Know As CDC Warns Of Spike In Bacterial Infection
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are warning about a rise in meningococcal disease, a rare bacterial illness that can lead to meningitis, a potentially fatal infection.
In an alert to doctors on Thursday, the CDC noted an increase in cases of one type of invasive meningococcal disease, most of it due to a specific strain of bacteria.
Last year, 422 cases of it were reported in the U.S. — the highest annual number since 2014. As of March 25 of this year, 143 cases have already been reported, meaning infections appear to be on track to surpass 2023, the CDC said.
The cases were disproportionately more common in adults ages 30 to 60, in Black people and in people who have HIV, the CDC said.
Here's what else to know about the disease:
Meningococcal disease symptomsMeningococcal disease can take several different forms. It usually presents as an infection of meningitis or a bloodstream infection, according to the CDC.
"Both of these types of infections are very serious and can be deadly in a matter of hours," the agency notes.
Meningococcal meningitis is when tissue covering the brain and spinal cord becomes infected and swollen. Symptoms usually include:
Additional symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, confusion and photophobia (when eyes are more sensitive to light).
Meningococcal bloodstream infection damages the walls of the blood vessels and causes bleeding into the skin and organs. Possible symptoms include:
People can spread meningococcal bacteria to others through respiratory and throat secretions (saliva or spit), according to the CDC.
This means the disease can be transmitted during extended close or direct contact, like coughing, sharing drinks or kissing.
"Fortunately, they are not as contagious as germs that cause the common cold or the flu," the CDC notes. "People do not catch the bacteria through casual contact or by breathing air where someone with meningococcal disease has been."
Is there a vaccine or treatment for meningococcal disease?The infection can be treated with antibiotics, but quick treatment is essential. An estimated 10% to 15% of infected people die, and survivors sometimes suffer long-term issues such as loss of limbs, deafness, brain damage or nervous system problems.
There also are vaccines against meningococcal disease.
Officials recommend that all children should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which protects against the rising strain, at around the time they enter middle school.
Since vaccine protection fades, the CDC also recommends a booster dose at age 16. "Teens may also get a MenB vaccine, preferably at 16 through 18 years old," the CDC says.
Shots also are recommended for people at higher risk, like those in a place where an outbreak is occurring or those with HIV infection or certain other health conditions.
-Zoe Christen Jones and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Sara MoniuszkoFatal Meningococcal Case Reported In Vayots Dzor
September 13, 2025 - 11:52 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - A resident of Armenia's Vayots Dzor province was diagnosed with meningitis and meningococcemia on September 9 and was hospitalized in critical condition. The patient died the next day, according to the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
In response, epidemiological investigations and necessary control measures were conducted to prevent the spread of the infection. Individuals who had close contact with the patient are under ongoing monitoring through home visits.
Meningococcal infection is a severe contagious disease caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium. It spreads via airborne droplets.
An estimated 1–10% of people carry meningococci in their throat without symptoms, but can still transmit the infection to others.
Key symptoms of meningococcal disease include:
There are two main methods to protect against meningococcal infection:
"Be vigilant and seek medical help immediately if symptoms appear," the statement said.
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