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Meningococcal Vaccines for Graduate Students?

Nearly half of states mandate that incoming college students get vaccinated with a meningococcal vaccine, especially if they will be living on campus.

Many colleges mandate that students have a recent dose of meningococcal vaccine before starting school.
Many colleges mandate that students have a recent dose of meningococcal vaccine before starting school.

This is classically the booster dose of the meningococcal vaccine that is given when teens are about 16 years old, after getting the first dose at age 11 to 12 years.

“First-year college students who live in residential housing (if not previously vaccinated at age 16 years or older) and military recruits: 1 dose MenACWY (Menactra, Menveo)”

Meningococcal | Who Needs to Be Vaccinated

But what happens if your first year on campus comes when you are much older, like if you return for graduate school?

“Persons aged 19 through 21 years are not recommended routinely to receive MenACWY. MenACWY may be administered up to age 21 years as catch-up vaccination for those who have not received a dose after their 16th birthday.”

Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

In that situation, you typically wouldn’t need another dose unless you were in a high risk group, especially if you already had two doses of MenACWY in the past, even if it had been more than five years since your last dose.

In Texas, the meningococcal vaccine is only mandated if you are under 22 years old.
In Texas, the meningococcal vaccine is only mandated if you are under 22 years old.

Many states actually have exceptions built into their vaccine laws to help clarify this issue.

Unfortunately, some don’t.

See ACIP recommendation? There is no ACIP recommendation for MenACWY vaccine over age 21 years...
See ACIP recommendation? There is no ACIP recommendation for MenACWY vaccine over age 21 years…

Which can lead some older students confused about whether they would benefit from a MenACWY vaccine.

Keep in mind that these older students could benefit from a MenB vaccine if they haven’t had one yet, as it is indicated through age 23 years.

More on Meningococcal Vaccines for Graduate Students

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