ACOG Committee Opinion number 314, September 2005. Meningococcal vaccination for adolescents.
Every year in the United States, approximately 1,400-2,800 individuals are infected with meningococcal disease. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released recommendations in early 2005 to reduce the incidence of meningococcal disease during adolescence and young adulthood. To achieve this goal, routine vaccination of preadolescents with meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) is now recommended. For adolescents who have not received MCV4, the CDC now recommends vaccination before entry into high school, at approximately 15 years of age. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports these recommendations and encourages all health care providers caring for adolescent and young adult patients to provide meningococcal vaccination with MCV4 when appropriate. This includes vaccination of college freshmen who live in dormitories. Pregnant women may vaccinated with meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) as indicated. Health care providers also are encouraged to discuss meningococcal vaccination with patients whose children have reached preadolescence, adolescence, or young adulthood and to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningococcal disease.
D000293:Adolescent; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines