Meningococcal disease describes the spectrum of
infections caused by Neisseria meningiditis, including meningitdis,
bacteremia, and bacteremic
pneumonia. Two quadrivalent meningococcal
polysaccharide-
protein conjugate vaccines that provide protection against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y (
MenACWY-D [
Menactra, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., Swiftwater, Pennsylvania] and
MenACWY-CRM [
Menveo, manufactured by Novartis
Vaccines, Cambridge, Massachusetts]) are licensed in the United States for use among persons aged 2 through 55 years.
MenACWY-D also is licensed for use among infants and toddlers aged 9 through 23 months. Quadrivalent
meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4 [Menommune, manufactured by sanofi pasteur, Inc., Swiftwater, Pennsylvania]) is the only
vaccine licensed for use among persons aged ≥56 years. A bivalent meningococcal
polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine that provides protection against meningococcal serogroups C and Y along with Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) (Hib-MenCY-TT [
MenHibrix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline
Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium]) is licensed for use in children aged 6 weeks through 18 months. This report compiles and summarizes all recommendations from CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) regarding prevention and control of
meningococcal disease in the United States, specifically the changes in the recommendations published since 2005 (CDC. Prevention and control of
meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices [ACIP]. MMWR 2005;54 [No. RR-7]). As a comprehensive summary of previously published recommendations, this report does not contain any new recommendations; it is intended for use by clinicians as a resource. ACIP recommends routine vaccination with a quadrivalent meningococcal
conjugate vaccine (
MenACWY) for adolescents aged 11 or 12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 years. ACIP also recommends routine vaccination for persons at increased risk for
meningococcal disease (i.e., persons who have persistent
complement component deficiencies, persons who have anatomic or functional asplenia, microbiologists who routinely are exposed to isolates of N. meningitidis, military recruits, and persons who travel to or reside in areas in which
meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic). Guidelines for antimicrobial
chemoprophylaxis and for evaluation and management of suspected outbreaks of
meningococcal disease also are provided.