The meningitis shot is a vaccine used to prevent meningitis caused by the Neisseria meningitides bacterium. There are two meningitis vaccines currently licensed for use in the United States. These vaccines are usually administered to children and adolescents between 11 and 18 years of age, although they can be used in children as young as 2 years of age with high-risk conditions, especially those that affect the spleen.
Common Side Effects
Local pain and inflammation at the site where the vaccine is given is the most common side effect. This pain is transient and can be relieved with over-the-counter analgesic medicines. Other strategies to reduce the pain and inflammation include applying a warm compress or towel to the area of redness.
Less-Common Side Effects
Patients have reported fever, headache and fatigue after administration of this vaccine. Other reported side effects include joint pain, diarrhea, chills and rash. Most of these reactions are non-specific and resolve after a couple of days without any therapy. The incidence of these side effects is higher when the meningitis vaccine is given with other vaccines, like the tetanus shot.
Rare Side Effects
There are a few reports suggesting a link between the administration of one of the meningitis vaccines and Guillan-Barré syndrome, or GBS. Guillan-Barré is a condition in which a patient develops ascending, bilateral paralysis, starting in the legs, and progressing to the rest of the body. It can produce paralysis of the muscles involved in breathing, resulting in respiratory failure. Treatment of GBS involves support of respiratory function. Even though there is no clear cut scientific correlation between the meningitis vaccine and GBS, the vaccine is contraindicated in patients with previous history of GBS.
Side-Effect Reporting
All side effects after vaccine administration need to be reported by the provider to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (see Resources). Patients who exhibit any of the side effects of vaccine administration should consult their doctor and seek immediate medical attention if developing symptoms of Guillan-Barré syndrome.
Misconceptions
The side effects of the meningits vaccine are uncommon and should not prevent vaccination of adolescents and high-risk individuals. Meningitis is a potentially fatal disease, and the vaccine is part of the strategy for prevention.
References
- Physician's Desk Reference
- Red Book Atlas of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Carol J. Baker MD, 2007
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