I heard that there is a new meningococcus vaccine, but my son just got the old one a year ago. Should he get the new one?
In February 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that all adolescents entering middle school (11 – 12 years old) and high school (15 years old) receive a new meningococcal vaccine. The new vaccine is recommended because it is more likely to eliminate bacteria from the nose and throat (making children who carry bacteria less contagious) and more likely to require a single dose that affords lifelong protection than the older version of the vaccine. The older meningococcal vaccine required frequent booster dosing every three to five years. If your child already received the older meningococcal vaccine (called the polysaccharide vaccine), it might still be of value to get the new vaccine. The new vaccine could be given three to five years after the last dose of the older vaccine.
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