Meningitis Act Injection

Meningitis Act Injection is recommended in children (from 2 years of age), adolescents, and adults to prevent invasive meningococcal disease. The use of this vaccine should be in accordance with official recommendations. It is given by a healthcare professional and should not be self-administered. It is important to receive all the doses of the vaccine to be effective.

Some common side effects of this medicine include injection site reactions (such as pain, swelling, redness), nausea, headache, sleepiness, irritability, malaise, and myalgia. If these side effects do not go away with time or get worse, let the doctor know. The doctor may help with ways to reduce or prevent these symptoms.

To make sure the vaccine is safe, before receiving the vaccine, it is important to let the doctor know if you have any other illnesses. You should also tell the doctor about all the medicines you are taking. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should consult and seek advice from their doctor before receiving the vaccine.

Prevention of Meningococcal disease

Your doctor or nurse will give you this medicine. Kindly do not self administer.

Meningitis Act Injection is a vaccine which helps develop immunity by initiating a mild infection. This type of infection does not cause illness but stimulates the body’s immune system to produce antibodies (proteins) to protect against any future infections.

If you miss a dose of Meningitis Act Injection, please consult your doctor.

Meningitis Act Injection is used to prevent meningococcal disease.

It is usually given by injection into the muscle of the upper arm.

Your doctor will advise you if and when you should receive a booster dose.

Immunocompromised individuals or persons suffering from functional or anatomic asplenia (including sickle cell disease) should get it.

People travelling to US & Europe, Hajj (as meningococcal meningitis is more prevalent there) are advised to get vaccinated with Meningitis Act Injection.

Q. What is Meningitis Act Injection?

Meningitis Act Injection is a vaccine indicated for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. Meningitis Act Injection is approved for use in persons aged 2 months through 55 years.

Q. Who should not take Meningitis Act Injection?

Meningitis Act Injection should not be given to patients with known allergy to any other ingredients of this medicine, or any other similar medicines in the past. Signs of an allergic reaction may include an itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue. If you have had an allergic reaction to any medicine earlier, inform your doctor about it.

Q. Is a booster dose of Meningitis Act Injection needed?

Yes, a single booster dose of Meningitis Act Injection may be administered to individuals aged 15 through 55 years who may be at a continued risk of getting meningococcal disease, if at least 4 years have passed since a prior dose of it was given. If you have any doubts, consult your doctor.

Q. How is Meningitis Act Injection given?

Meningitis Act Injection is given by a trained healthcare professional or a doctor only and should not be self-administered. Usually, it is given into the muscle of your upper arm, but it may also be given in the thigh muscle in children. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully to get maximum benefit from Meningitis Act Injection.

Q. Can Meningitis Act Injection cause meningococcal disease?

No. Meningitis Act Injection will not cause meningococcal disease. It just helps your body in producing antibodies against it, so that your body can fight the infection if you are exposed to it in future.

In Prevention of Meningococcal disease

Meningitis Act Injection is a vaccine that helps protect against meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 in children (from 2 years of age), adolescents and adults. It is given by a doctor or a nurse and should not be self-administered. Consult your doctor if you have any doubts. Keeping up to date with recommended vaccines is the best defense against meningococcal disease. Maintaining healthy habits, like getting plenty of rest and not having close contact with people who are sick, is also helpful in preventing it.

Most side effects do not require any medical attention and disappear as your body adjusts to the medicine. Consult your doctor if they persist or if you’re worried about them

Muscle pain

Irritation

Sleepiness

Headache

Nausea

Injection site reaction

Alcohol:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

It is not known whether it is safe to consume alcohol with Meningitis Act Injection. Please consult your doctor.

Pregnancy:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Meningitis Act Injection is generally considered safe to use during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown low or no adverse effects to the developing baby; however, there are limited human studies.

Breast feeding:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Meningitis Act Injection is probably safe to use during breastfeeding. Limited human data suggests that the drug does not represent any significant risk to the baby.

Driving:SAFE

Meningitis Act Injection does not usually affect your ability to drive.

Kidney:CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR

There is limited information available on the use of Meningitis Act Injection in patients with kidney disease. Please consult your doctor.

Liver:SAFE IF PRESCRIBED

Meningitis Act Injection is probably safe to use in patients with liver disease. Limited data available suggests that dose adjustment of Meningitis Act Injection may not be needed in these patients. Please consult your doctor.

Mencevax ACWY meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Rixensart, Belgium: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals; 2009 . view

Sinha A, Singh S. Immunization and Immunodeficiency. In: Paul VK, Bagga A, editors. Ghai Essential Pediatrics. 8th ed. New Delhi: CBS Publisher’s & Distributors Pvt Ltd.; 2013. p. 202.

Vaccine.com. Meningococcal. view

WHO. Meningococcal. view