CDC calls for meningitis vaccination in teens

Teen-agers and preteens should be routinely immunized against meningitis using Sanofi-Aventis's newly approved Menactra, U.S. vaccine advisers agreed on Thursday.

The vaccine can prevent a serious form of meningitis that can kill adolescents, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices said.

It protects against four strains of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria and is licensed for use in adolescents and adults between 11 and 55 years old.

The new recommendations advise that children 11 and 12, teens entering high school at age 15 and college freshmen living in dormitories should be immunized against meningococcal meningitis.

"Meningococcal meningitis, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, is a dangerous, potentially fatal bacterial infection that strikes nearly 3,000 Americans each year," the National Meningitis Association said in a statement endorsing the recommendation.

"The NMA believes these new recommendations will help save the lives of teens and college students across the country," said NMA executive director Lynn Bozof.

"Research shows adolescents and young adults are at increased risk for meningococcal disease and more likely to die as a result of the disease than younger children or older adults," Bozof said.

Meningitis starts out with flu-like symptoms but can progress rapidly and can result in hearing loss, brain damage, limb amputation and death.

Symptoms include high fever, headache, stiff neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting and exhaustion.