{"id":60193,"date":"2023-09-05T16:32:11","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T20:32:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=60193"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:32:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:32:44","slug":"do-meningitis-shots-hurt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/do-meningitis-shots-hurt\/","title":{"rendered":"What to expect with a meningitis vaccine"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you or your child get a vaccine, it’s natural to wonder about possible side effects. The<\/span> meningitis vaccine<\/span><\/a> is <\/span>recommended for pre-teens<\/span><\/a>, teens, and specific high-risk individuals with certain health conditions. As with most vaccines, mild side effects are common after the meningitis vaccine. <\/span><\/p>\n

Your child may be asking, “Do meningitis shots hurt?” According to the<\/span> CDC<\/span><\/a>, a sore arm is among the most typical side effects. Thankfully, side effects are rarely severe and resolve in a day or two. Here, we’ll look at the<\/span> meningitis vaccine<\/span><\/a>, including what it is and who gets it, what to expect when you get the vaccine, and more specific details about meningitis shot side effects.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is the meningitis vaccine?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The<\/span> meningitis vaccine<\/span><\/a> protects against meningococcal disease or meningitis. “Meningitis is a dangerous infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord,” says <\/span>Leah Alexander<\/span><\/a>, MD, a pediatrician based in New Jersey.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Meningitis isn’t prevalent in the U.S., as evidenced by the <\/span>210 cases the CDC reported<\/span><\/a> in 2021. When someone gets meningitis, though, it can be serious and sometimes life-threatening, says<\/span> Theodore Strange, MD<\/span><\/a>, chair of medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in New York. “It can also spread in the blood throughout the body and cause lifelong disability and death,” he explains. <\/span><\/p>\n

“Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent meningococcal disease,” Dr. Strange says, adding that “the vaccine is highly effective.” According to CDC data, since the meningitis pre-teen and teen vaccine recommendation began in 2005, meningitis in this population has dropped by more than 90%. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are five meningococcal vaccines available in the United States, according to the <\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>. Two recombinant protein meningococcal vaccines are effective against one strain, while three protect against multiple meningococcal bacteria. Dr. Alexander explains that the conjugate meningitis vaccine protects against four types of potentially deadly bacterial infections: A, C, W, and Y.<\/span><\/p>\n

Who should get the meningitis vaccine?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The<\/span> meningitis vaccine<\/span><\/a> isn’t recommended for everyone but for certain people at higher risk of catching meningitis or who are most vulnerable to its effects, including those with weakened immune systems. According to <\/span>Laura Purdy<\/span><\/a>, MD, a Nashville-based family medicine physician, adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of disease due to their potential to reside in college dorms where meningitis outbreaks are known to occur.<\/span><\/p>\n

The CDC recommends that all 11- or 12-year-old preteens get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. This guidance is part of the CDC’s<\/span> 2023 child and adolescent immunization schedule<\/span><\/a>, which the<\/span> Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP)<\/span><\/a> and five other major medical organizations use.<\/span><\/p>\n

Others who may benefit from a meningitis vaccination include:<\/span><\/p>\n