What is Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Meningococcal disease is a serious infection caused by a bacteria. Meningococcal bacteria can infect the blood, spinal cord, and brain. These conditions can be fatal.
Meningococcal disease can spread from one person to another through small droplets of saliva that are expelled into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The bacteria can also be passed through contact with objects the infected person has touched, such as a door handle, or other surface. The bacteria can also be passed through kissing, or sharing a drinking glass or eating utensil with an infected person.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is used to prevent infection caused by meningococcal bacteria. The vaccine contains four of the most common types of meningococcal bacteria.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes your body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is for use in adults and children who are at least 3 months of age.
Like any vaccine, meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
Developing meningitis (infection of the spinal cord and lining of the brain) is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

What is the most important information I should know about Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Developing meningitis (infection of the spinal cord and lining of the brain) is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive another meningococcal vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.
Do not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a meningococcal vaccine, or if you are allergic to a preservative called thimerosol.
Before receiving meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, tell your doctor if you have a weak immune system, if you are allergic to latex rubber, or if you are receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment. If you have any of these conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all.
You can still receive meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine if you have a minor cold. However, if you are moderately or severely ill with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine.
Like any vaccine, meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Do not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a meningococcal vaccine, or if you are allergic to a preservative called thimerosol.
Before receiving meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• any condition that weakens the immune system (such as HIV, AIDS, or cancer)
• if you are receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments; or
• if you are allergic to latex rubber

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or you may need to wait until your condition changes or you have completed your treatments.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether this vaccine may be harmful to an unborn baby. Before you receive the vaccine, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon after receiving the vaccine.
Your name may need to be listed on a registry of women who receive a meningococcal vaccine during pregnancy if you receive this vaccine while you are pregnant. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of your pregnancy and the birth of your child so that health department authorities are notified of any unwanted effects on the baby.
It is not known whether meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
This vaccine should not be given to anyone younger than 3 months old.

What are the possible side effects of Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive another meningococcal vaccine in the future, you will need to tell the doctor if the first shot caused any side effects.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe weakness or unusual feeling in your arms and legs (may occur 2 to 4 weeks after you receive the vaccine)
• high fever; or
• unusual bleeding

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• low fever, chills
• redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the vaccine was injected
• headache
• tired feeling

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.

Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Interactions

What other drugs affect Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor if you are using a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin).
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine can be given at the same time as most other vaccinations, but should not be given together with a pertussis (whooping cough) or typhoid vaccine.
Talk to your doctor before receiving meningococcal vaccine if you are using any of the following medications that may affect the immune system:

• azathioprine (Imuran)
• basiliximab (Simulect)
• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf)
• etanercept (Enbrel)
• leflunomide (Arava)
• muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone)
• mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept)
• sirolimus (Rapamune)
• tacrolimus (Prograf)

• chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer
• a steroid medicine such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Decadron, Dexone), hydrocortisone (Cortef, Hydrocortone), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Prelone, Pediapred), prednisone (Orasone, Deltasone), triamcinolone (Aristocort), and others; or
• an inhaled or nasal steroid such as beclomethasone (Qvar, Beclovent, Beconase, Vanceril, Vancenase), budesonide (Pulmicort, Rhinocort), flunisolide (Aerobid, Nasalide, Nasarel), fluticasone (Flovent, Flonase), mometasone (Nasonex), or triamcinolone (Azmacort, Nasacort)

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to receive meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

There are usually no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity before or after receiving meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine Dosage

How should I take Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

This vaccine is given as a shot under the skin. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is usually given only once. Children and people who have higher risks of meningococcal infection may need a repeat dose of this vaccine 2 or 3 years after receiving the first shot.
Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is recommended in the following situations:

• for people who do not have a spleen
• for laboratory workers who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria
• for people who live in dormitories or other group housing; and
• for people who travel or live among certain populations where meningococcal outbreak is common

You can still receive a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine if you have a minor cold. However, if you are moderately or severely ill with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine.
Your doctor may recommend using a non aspirin pain reliever to prevent pain or fever that can occur with this vaccination. Over-the-counter pain relievers include acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol, and others) or ibuprofen (Motrin Childrens, Advil Childrens, and others). Use this medication when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours, unless your doctor tells you otherwise. Use only the dose your doctor recommends.

What happens if I overdose on Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

An overdose of meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is not likely to occur.

What happens if I miss a dose of Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine?

Since meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is usually given as a single injection, you may not be on a booster schedule.
If your child misses a booster dose of this vaccine, call your doctor for instructions.
Edited from everydayhealth.com