Meningococcal Vaccination
Meningococcal meningitis (neck spasm, meningitis) is caused by a bacterium (meningococcus) transmitted from person to person by coughing. Meningitis occurs all over the world. In parts of West, Central and East Africa, meningitis occurs in epidemics during the dry season. These are mainly caused by type A and increasingly by type W135. Epidemics also occur occasionally in other parts of the world. If you have intensive contact with local people in these areas for an extended period of time, you are at increased risk. Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges. It starts with flu-like symptoms with high fever, muscle pain, vomiting, headache and neck stiffness (pain in the neck when bending the head). The disease can be very severe and sometimes cause death.
Meningococcal vaccination
There is a vaccine against Meningitis, Nimenrix. . Nimenrix is prescribed to protect adults, adolescents and children aged 12 months and over against meningococcal disease caused by four groups of the bacteria A, C, W135 and Y. Nimenrix is administered in a single injection, preferably in the shoulder muscle. In children younger than two years, it can be injected into the thigh muscle. Protection duration is then at least 3 years.
