Physicians Urged to Defer Meningitis Vaccine for Some Patients Until Supply Improves
[Posted 05/25/06]

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization urged that 11- and 12-year-olds, high school freshmen, and dorm-dwelling college students be vaccinated against meningitis. CDC’s three-year goal is to have a new meningitis vaccine routinely administered at the same time as the measles-mumps-rubella shot for 12-year-olds.

However, an exceptionally high demand for the vaccine has prompted CDC to recommend that physicians defer vaccination of 11- and 12-year-olds until the supply improves, but to continue to vaccinate high school freshmen and dorm-dwelling college students. Other persons at high risk for meningococcal disease, including military recruits and travelers to areas in which meningococcal disease is prevalent, should also be vaccinated.

Physicians should keep track of the 11- and 12-year-olds whose vaccination is deferred so they can be vaccinated as soon as the supply improves

Click here to read about the anticipated vaccine shortage in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Contact: Robin Flagg, 415/882-5110 or rflagg@cmanet.org.