Filling out the vax portion of S’s medical forms for college. There’s a section listed as Meningitis (MenACYW) and another listed as Meningitis B. All I see on his records is something listed as Meningococcal. What is this?
Call your doctor’s office.
I hate calling there. I may just drive over, at least I’ll get a breathing human.
I don’t know if it’s the same as for my daughter’s college but they added a mandatory vaccination for another strain of meningitis. It was a multi part series that my dd started in the spring of senior year and finished up before she went off to school.
They required one dose of Meningitis Conjugate on or after 16th birthday, if 23 or younger, which is the one my daughter already had.
Meningococcal B was the one that they added last year. It’s either 2 or 3 doses depending on which vaccine manufacturer your doctor uses. One is Trumenba and the other is Bexsero.
This may be helpful
I had heard Trumenba also went to two doses versus three, but am not positive. Mine did it when it was three. But they are spread out so it is not a one and done for either brand.
Meningitis B vaccine was licensed in the US in 2015, so any meningitis vaccines received before then would be for other serogroups (A, C, W, Y, or some subset of these).
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/mening.pdf
Most colleges require the conjugate meningitis shot (ACWY), Menactra or Menevo, this is the one most states require for public school attendance for 11 yr olds (booster at age 16).
The newer Meningitis B shot covers another serogroup. They are both separate vaccines.
It is recommended for young adults who are going to live in dormatories.
Meningitis B shots are Trumenba or Bexsero, 2 shots 6 months apart.
We had our college students get them in February and August before going to college.
Ok, nurse finally got back to me. Apparently his med records are a mess from all the different moves. The new one dose shot is indeed the Men B. The nurse said some but not all schools require it, but in her experience most Drs will strongly suggest it for college kids.
Meningitis B isn’t required like the other Meningococcal vaccine, but it is recommended. My d19 agreed that it was a good idea to go ahead and get that at her last check up as well as the other Hep vax that wasn’t required.
Our insurance covered them as well.
It is required by some schools in some states.
Our old pediatrician said she expected it to be a standard on the vaccine schedule soon.
As a parent, this story still moves me when I read it, also tells kids/parents what to be on watch for. I am able to close the subscribe window thingy and read the story.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/04/02/santa-clara-university-meningitis-survivor-returns-to-school/
Yeah, ours basically said that there are a few schools require it automatically but many will if there is a meningitis B break out on campus, so it is a good idea to get it now when it’s more convenient and less stressful.
As for the hep vax (can’t remember which is which), one was required for elementary schools- at least in NY- when all our kids were little but not the other. Nowadays, the other is also required for entering elementary kids but older kids are grandfathered in and not required to have it.