What You Need to Know

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Attacks brain and spinal cord

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the brain and spinal cord.1

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Meningitis in the US

MenB accounts for about 62% of all meningococcal disease cases in people ages 16 to 23 in the US.4-6 Among individuals 18 to 24 years of age, college students have more than three times the risk of MenB infection as similarly aged people not attending college.7

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The symptoms

Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and a rash that looks like purple spots. Early symptoms may seem like the flu, but MenB progresses quickly and can lead to death within 24 hours.9

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against MenB

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Forms of meningococcal meningitis

There are 5 common forms of the meningococcal meningitis bacteria,2 and your children need to be protected against all of them, including MenB. Comprehensive protection from meningococcal disease requires 2 vaccines: a routine MenACWY vaccination for adolescents starting at ages 11-12 years, and a second MenB vaccination at 16-23 years, recommended based on shared clinical decision-making. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about meningitis B protection.3

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College outbreaks

From 2011 to 2019, all US college outbreaks were caused by MenB.8

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Long-term impact

MenB doesn’t just disrupt your child’s teen or college years. With some outcomes including permanent hearing loss, brain damage, vision loss, and amputation, the impacts of MenB can last a lifetime.10,11

close
Attacks brain and spinal cord

Meningococcal meningitis is a bacterial infection that attacks the brain and spinal cord.1

close
Forms of meningococcal meningitis

There are 5 common forms of the meningococcal meningitis bacteria,2 and your children need to be protected against all of them, including MenB. Comprehensive protection from meningococcal disease requires 2 vaccines: a routine MenACWY vaccination for adolescents starting at ages 11-12 years, and a second MenB vaccination at 16-23 years, recommended based on shared clinical decision-making. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider about meningitis B protection.3

close
Meningitis in the US

MenB accounts for about 62% of all meningococcal disease cases in people ages 16 to 23 in the US.4-6 Among individuals 18 to 24 years of age, college students have more than three times the risk of MenB infection as similarly aged people not attending college.7

close
College outbreaks

From 2011 to 2019, all US college outbreaks were caused by MenB.8

close
The symptoms

Common symptoms include fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, and a rash that looks like purple spots. Early symptoms may seem like the flu, but MenB progresses quickly and can lead to death within 24 hours.9

close
Long-term impact

MenB doesn't just disrupt your child's teen or college years. With some outcomes including permanent hearing loss, brain damage, vision loss, and amputation, the impacts of MenB can last a lifetime.10,11

close

Learn about a vaccine
that can help protect
against MenB

Learn more

Next: Know the facts

References

  • 1. Meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 7, 2022. Accessed February 24, 2022. http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html
  • 2. McNeil LK, Zagursky RJ, Lin SL, et al. Role of factor H binding protein in Neisseria meningitidis virulence and its potential as a vaccine candidate to broadly protect against meningococcal disease. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. 2013;77(2):234-252.
  • 3. Recommended child and adolescent immunization schedule for ages 18 years or younger: United States, 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Updated February 17, 2022. Accessed February 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf
  • 4. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance report, 2017. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/downloads/NCIRD-EMS-Report-2017.pdf
  • 5. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance report, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/downloads/NCIRD-EMS-Report-2018.pdf
  • 6. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance report, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed February 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/downloads/NCIRD-EMS-Report-2019.pdf
  • 7. Mbaeyi S, Duffy J, McNamara LA. Meningococcal disease. In: Hall E, Wodi AP, Hamborsky J, et al, eds. Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases . 14th ed. Public Health Foundation; 2021:207-224. Accessed February 24, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mening.html
  • 8. Marshall GS, Dempsey AF, Srivastava A, et al. US college students are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020;9(2):244-247.
  • 9. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397-403.
  • 10. Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Le Saux N, et al. The disease burden of invasive meningococcal serogroup B disease in Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013;32(1):e20-e25.
  • 11. Borg J, Christie D, Coen PG, et al. Outcomes of meningococcal disease in adolescence: prospective, matched-cohort study. Pediatrics. 2009;123(3):e502-e509.
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