CDC urges students to receive new, longer-lasting meningitis vaccine

Students entering high school and college should be vaccinated against meningitis using a new longer-lasting vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Thursday.

The announcement significantly strengthens the CDC’s previous recommendation five years ago that college students consider being vaccinated. The earlier advisory also did not cover children.

Each year, about 3,000 Americans contract meningococcal disease – a range of brain, spinal and blood infections that includes meningitis. About 300 Americans die each year from such infections.

Up to 10 percent of the population carries the bacteria that cause the illness, most without becoming sick themselves. It spreads through coughs, sneezes and kissing, which makes college students living in dorms or similarly close quarters susceptible.

It often strikes suddenly, causing a high fever, severe headaches and nausea. About 15 percent of meningococcal disease survivors suffer serious long-term effects, such as brain damage, amputations and hearing loss.

“It’s a horrible disease. You can catch it and literally be dead six hours later,” said Dr. Robert Frenck, a pediatrics professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ committee on infectious diseases.

The academy endorsed the CDC’s recommendation Thursday.

The CDC recommended use of the new meningococcal vaccine, Menactra, made by Sanofi Pasteur.