In the article, we will consider reviews of vaccinations against meningitis for children.
To date, vaccination remains the only reliable method to prevent infection with dangerous infections. A disease like meningitis most often affects children less than 3 years old and can cause extremely dangerous consequences. However, any intervention in the human immune system is not completely safe and carries a variety of risks. That is why the need for vaccination remains an open question.
At what age children need to be vaccinated against meningitis, we will tell below.
The danger of meningitis and meningococcal infection
Meningitis is epidemic in nature. As a rule, children 2-3 years old are exposed to it. Quite often, infection occurs in children's groups, however, the likelihood of infection from a healthy carrier person remains. As a result of infection with a meningococcal infection, tragic consequences can occur. And only on the timely start of therapy depends on how complete the future life of the child will be.
Risk groups
Vaccination against meningococcal infection in children is not included in the approved vaccination calendar. Immunization is carried out in droves only in infectious foci and only if outbreaks have been reported. Experts recommend vaccination in the following cases:
- If a baby occurs in a children's team who is suspected of contracting meningitis. In this case, vaccination is given to all children aged 1-8 years who are in contact and living in the same building with it. In addition, immunization is indicated for adolescents.
- If the region where the child lives has a high incidence rate, or is planning a visit (even short-term) to such a region.
- Children 1.5-2 years old who attend kindergartens.
- Children who suffer from immunodeficiency.
- On the personal initiative of the parents (in this case, vaccination is carried out at the expense of the parents).
- During periods of the epidemic, general immunization is recommended (an epidemic is considered to be a situation where more than 20 cases of infection are registered per 100 thousand children).
What vaccine is given for meningitis is interesting to many.
Varieties of vaccines
Currently, there are several types of microorganisms that can provoke the development of the disease. Most often, immunization is carried out against the most dangerous pathogens. In the case when the parents want to protect the child fully, vaccination against hemophilic, meningococcal, pneumococcal infection is required.
Meningococcal vaccines are an effective tool for emergency prevention in areas of the epidemic. Negative symptoms against the background of their use rarely develop, they are practically harmless, can be combined with other drugs for vaccination (can be mixed in one syringe). Such vaccines are administered once, and the maximum level of antibody concentration is noted two weeks after immunization. As a rule, vaccination is carried out against pathogens that belong to groups A, B, C.
- “Meningo A + C”, “Meningococcal group A + C”. They are divalent vaccines. The first is produced by a French pharmaceutical company, the second by a Russian one. In accordance with the manufacturer's annotations, Meningo A + C can be used to immunize children from 2 years old, and Meningococcal A + C groups - from 1.5 years. Vaccination in epidemiological foci is allowed from six months of age.
- Meningo-ACW. It is a trivalent vaccine. In accordance with the instructions for use, it can be used from 1.5 years, it is characterized by good tolerance in children.
- Menactra, Mentsevax. Vaccines are tetravalent. The first drug is of American origin, the second is Belgian. The instructions to Menactra and Mentsevax indicate that vaccination with drugs can be carried out from 9 months.
Haemophilus influenzae vaccination
Immunization of children at risk for hemophilic bacillus is provided for by the national vaccination calendar, and therefore it can be obtained free of charge in the clinic located in the community. Immunization is carried out at the same time as the DTP vaccine, which provides children with protection against hemophilic type meningitis for life. The following vaccines are available:
- Hiberix. Represents a monovaccine from a hemophilic bacillus.
- Pentaxim, Infanrix. They are complex vaccinations that protect the child from several dangerous infections at once. In addition to the hemophilic component, they include vaccines for poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.
Pneumococcal meningitis vaccination
If the child has long-term and often ill bronchitis, he is shown routine and free immunization with the Prevenar 13 vaccine against pneumococcal type meningitis. Vaccination should be up to 5 years. The drug can be used from two months of age. They are vaccinated four times, it provides protection against the disease for life.
If the child does not belong to the risk group, then vaccination is carried out in accordance with the wishes of the parents on a paid basis.
In addition, in some cases, a drug of French origin “Pneumo 23” can be used. You can use it from 2 years, it provides reliable protection for 10 years from pneumonia and pneumococcal meningitis.
Immunization schedule
It is recommended to vaccinate children from meningitis according to the established scheme. It is better to discuss it with the pediatrician. When vaccinating a child under 2 years of age, revaccination should be carried out after 3 months. In order to consolidate the result and obtain reliable protection, it is recommended to make a second booster vaccine 3 years after the first.
Hiberix vaccination (for hemophilic type meningitis) is carried out in 4 stages. The child is vaccinated for the first time when he is 3 months old, after which revaccination is indicated after 1.5 months. Upon reaching the six months of age and one and a half years of age, the third and fourth vaccinations are carried out, respectively.
Vaccine exposure mechanism, duration
The group of meningococci includes several subgroups of bacteria that can cause disease. The meningitis vaccine contains certain substances. Given the set of these substances, the vaccine protects the child from one type of bacteria or several at once.
As a rule, epidemics begin when the bacteria of subgroup A spread. But on the territory of Russia, cases of infection by pathogens of group B are most often recorded. Unfortunately, an affordable and effective vaccine to prevent infection by bacteria of this group has not yet been developed. Nevertheless, vaccination against other varieties of the disease is reasonable and necessary to protect the health of the child.
After getting a meningococcal vaccine in the child's body, the production of antibodies is stimulated, actively suppressing live bacteria that penetrate the blood. Thus, antibodies interfere with their reproduction and vital functions, and prevent the development of meningitis. That is, the child develops natural immunity against this dangerous infection.
Important is the timely conduct of immunization. After 5 days, antibodies to the causative agent of the disease appear in the child’s blood, but their maximum concentration, which will be sufficient to prevent infection, occurs only after 2 weeks. In addition, there are vaccines designed for emergency immunization in the foci of the epidemic.
The period during which protection against meningitis will be maintained depends on the vaccination schedule and the drug used for this. Vaccines intended for the youngest children require four times the use in order to obtain lasting protection.
Some drugs can protect the child for a period of 10 years, and the use of others allows you to develop immunity for life.
Contraindications to immunization
An absolute contraindication to immunization against meningitis of any form is the presence of any acute illness in a child. In such cases, the child is sent for vaccination only after he is fully recovered. If the disease in the child is in a mild form, then vaccination is not contraindicated. Acute pathologies and, in addition, pregnancy are also a contraindication to the immunization of adults.
The reaction of the body to vaccination, possible complications
According to reviews, the meningitis vaccine for children is usually well tolerated.
Vaccines of any form are characterized by low reactogenicity, complications develop only in rare cases. Sometimes swelling occurs at the injection site, and general weakness or hyperemia occurs. Such reactions most often have a mild form, disappear on their own in a couple of days.
Occasionally, a vaccine against meningococcal infection, like any other, can provoke severe forms of allergies. Its symptoms appear almost immediately after administration of the drug - within a few minutes or hours.
The child should be given emergency medical attention if allergic manifestations such as:
- Difficulty breathing, which is accompanied by swelling of the oral cavity or larynx.
- Wheezing accompanied by wheezing.
- Tachycardia.
- Hives.
- Dizziness.
- Pallor.
- Temperature rise.
The opinion of the pediatrician
What is Komarovsky’s opinion on the vaccine against meningitis for children?
The pediatrician claims that vaccination of children is a mandatory procedure, if there are no acute contraindications in the form of a child’s disease. Injections are generally tolerated normally. Complications can sometimes appear, but they can be easily dealt with.
Should children be vaccinated against meningitis? Komarovsky believes that in any case, all issues relating to the life and health of the child should be decided by the parents. The introduction of an injection is not considered an exception.
Meningitis Vaccine Reviews for Children
Currently, quite often disputes arise about the need to vaccinate children not only from meningitis, but also other infections. Some experts are of the opinion that invading the child’s immune system can have serious consequences. Be that as it may, the parents of children who have been vaccinated against meningitis claim that vaccination is easy to carry and at the same time reliably protects the child from many serious pathologies of an infectious nature.
We reviewed reviews of meningitis vaccines for children.