AAP updates meningitis vaccine recommendations

WASHINGTON — The American Academy of Pediatrics has updated its recommendations on the use of meningococcal vaccines in children and adolescents, according to the online issue of Pediatrics.

The AAP now recommends an age-appropriate meningococcal conjugate vaccine instead of the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine for children and adolescents, according to the policy statement.



Individuals ages 11 to 12 years should be immunized and given a booster once they reach 16 years of age. Unvaccinated or first-year college students who had received vaccines before the age of 21 living in dorms who received their last dose before their 16th birthday should also receive a single dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine.



The complete update can be viewed here.