"MENAKTRA" - vaccination against meningococcal infections
Polysaccharide vaccine (serogroups A, C, Y and W-135, conjugated with diphtheria toxoid
Manufacturer: Sanofi Pasteur Inc., USA.
Protects against: Invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y and W-135.
Suitable for: people aged 9 months and older, adults up to 55 years old.
Not included in the national vaccination calendar.
IMPORTANT: vaccinations with the Menactra vaccine are not carried out in clinics
Advantages of the Menactra vaccine:
- Forms the development of specific immunity to serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 of Neisseria meningitidis.
- Good immunogenicity – causes lasting immunity
Vaccine composition
"Menactra" is a drug that has been successfully used in more than fifty countries for more than 13 years. It is safe, highly effective and well tolerated.
The most common and aggressive pathogens are the four Neisseria species of meningococcus. Therefore, a solution of capsular polysaccharides of these particular neisserias was included in the anti-meningitis vaccine. The carrier protein is diphtheria toxoid, which acts as a transporter and “provocateur” of the immune system.
Advantages of the drug "Menactra"
- High chemical purity.
- The ability to form long-term persistent specific protection.
- Multivalency.
Indications for vaccination "Menactra"
Vaccination is recommended for all children and adults, primarily for the following categories of the population at increased risk of meningococcal disease:
People who have had direct contact with patients infected with meningococci serogroups A, C, Y or W-135 (in the family or in closed institutions).
Description of the Menaktra vaccine and its composition
Meningococcal infection is an acute form of disease of various organs caused by strains of meningococcal bacteria. This could be meningoencephalitis, purulent meningitis, etc. Transmitted by airborne droplets.
Meningococcal infection is especially dangerous for children 1-5 years old, since before reaching this age the body cannot properly produce antibodies to the pathogen. The peak incidence is from February to April.
The country producing the Menaktra vaccine is the USA.
Each injection consists of polysaccharides serogroup A (4 μg), C (4 μg), Y (4 μg), W-135 and excipients.
It is a solution for intramuscular use.
Scheme and method of administration of the Menactra vaccine
Vaccination is carried out only intramuscularly in a dose of 0.5 ml. For children aged 9 to 12 months, the vaccine is injected into the anterolateral thigh area. For children aged 12 months and older - into the deltoid muscle of the shoulder.
Primary vaccination:
- Children aged 9 to 23 months are given 2 consecutive doses 3 months apart.
- Children from 2 years of age and adults up to 55 years of age are given one single dose.
Revaccination can be carried out for persons aged 15 to 55 years in conditions of increased risk of infection, if at least 4 years have passed since the date of vaccination.
Compatibility with other vaccines
The Menactra vaccine is used simultaneously with a polysaccharide vaccine for the prevention of typhoid fever and an adsorbed vaccine containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids, intended for use in adults. In children younger than 2 years of age, Menactra may be given with one or more of the following vaccines during the second dose at 12 months of age: pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, varicella vaccine or a vaccine for the prevention of viral hepatitis A. If it is necessary to carry out joint vaccination with Menactra and DTP, in children aged 4 to 6 years inclusive, a full course of vaccination with Menactra is first given, then DPT vaccine. The BCG vaccine should not be used simultaneously with the Menactra vaccine.
Use of the Menaktra vaccine
The vaccine is used for vaccination and revaccination of children in combination with vaccinations against tetanus, typhoid and diphtheria, measles, rubella, chickenpox, mumps and hepatitis A. Simultaneous vaccination with BCG cannot be done.
Vaccination is strongly recommended when:
- There are people in the family infected with meningococcal infection, except for those caused by serogroup B meningococci;
- A family trip to Africa is planned;
- One or both parents are laboratory employees;
- There are students and other people in the family who live in a hostel, hospice, etc., and come on vacation or to visit;
- Athletes traveling to training camps;
- Conscripts, new recruits.
Contraindications
Only a doctor can decide whether Menactra is suitable for vaccination
The Menactra vaccine is contraindicated if there is a history of an allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine and in the following cases:
- A severe allergic reaction (eg, anaphylaxis) after a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine, diphtheria toxoid.
- Acute infectious and non-infectious diseases, exacerbation of chronic diseases (in these cases, vaccination is carried out after recovery or in remission).
Possible side effects
The most common local and systemic adverse reactions to the Menctra vaccine in children aged 9 to 18 months, within 7 days after vaccination, were most often noted: sensitivity at the injection site, soreness, vomiting, abnormal crying, fever. In children aged 2 to 10 years: soreness, redness, diarrhea, drowsiness, irritability. In adolescents and adults, the most common symptoms are pain at the injection site, headache, fatigue, lethargy, irritability, rash, arthralgia, chills, and fever. Includes pain, redness and swelling at the injection site and loss of appetite in all vaccine age groups, diarrhea (all age groups except infants), irritability and drowsiness (infants and children), abnormal crying, vomiting and fever (children), headache, fatigue, malaise and arthralgia (in adolescents and adults). Other adverse reactions may occur.
People who have previously been diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome have an increased risk of developing it after vaccination.
Syncope (fainting) may occur after vaccination. Provisions should be made to prevent injuries associated with fainting, as well as medical care for fainting.
Menactra
Please check with the clinic administrators for availability of vaccines.
The Menactra vaccine helps the body develop stable immunity to several strains of the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which causes the development of meningitis and is the cause of sepsis. It differs significantly from its predecessors in various properties: age restrictions, rules of administration, reaction, resulting effect.
Why are meningococcal infections dangerous?
An acute infectious disease caused by meningococcus, a Gram-negative pathogenic bacterium, is called meningococcal infection.
The disease is seasonal. The highest incidence rate is observed in winter and early spring, which is no coincidence.
It is during this period that the immune system is greatly weakened by the activation of influenza, ARVI and other viruses. Hypothermia can also provoke the development of infection.
Statistics
Russia is characterized by a high incidence rate (approximately 5 people per 100 thousand population). Particularly high susceptibility to the bacterium is observed in children, from birth to middle school (adolescence). Over 90% of all morbidity cases occur in this age range.
The severity of the disease can vary significantly, ranging from harmless carriage and mild nasopharyngitis, popularly called the runny nose, to sepsis, which leads to death within a few hours. If a person’s immunity is strong, the infection was a one-time infection and a small number of pathogenic microorganisms entered the body, then the immune system can easily cope with the infection without allowing it to manifest itself.
What are the dangers of meningitis?
If a person’s immunity is weakened, and a large number of meningococci enter his body, then they begin to reproduce intensively, releasing toxic substances that damage the walls of blood vessels. Through the resulting gaps, bacteria penetrate the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, affecting the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spinal cord and brain.
Particularly dangerous are situations when pathogens, having broken the defense, multiply vigorously, causing the development of septicemia, or, having destroyed the barrier that exists between the blood and brain tissue, settle in the brain, provoking purulent meningitis. In such cases, death is observed in 16% of cases.
Over 10% of children who survive meningococcal infection have various pathologies:
- Hearing or vision is weakened or lost;
- Paresis or even paralysis is observed;
- It is necessary to completely or partially amputate a limb;
- Mental abilities deteriorate significantly.
Indications for vaccination with Menactra
The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis is airborne in closed spaces. Anyone can become infected. But the infection is most dangerous if it penetrates into places where there are large crowds of people, especially in children's institutions. Therefore, risk groups who need to be vaccinated have been identified.
Menactra is recommended:
- People who come into contact with carriers of the infection;
- Employees of laboratories where bacteriological analyzes are carried out;
- Persons who had to have their spleen removed, and those whose organ has lost its functionality;
- People diagnosed with congenital immunodeficiency;
- Tourists going to regions where the infection is common, mainly to tropical countries characterized by hot weather conditions;
- To everyone who comes into contact with sick people in schools, nurseries, kindergartens, holiday camps, work and student dormitories, and soldier barracks.
How does the vaccine work?
The drug promotes the development of stable immunity to meningococcus, which manifests itself 10 days after immunization. There is no need for revaccination.
There is information that 3 years after vaccination, the concentration of antibodies directed against meningococci is significantly higher than 30 days after using the drug.
Menactra is injected intramuscularly, mainly into the shoulder. An exception is infants who have not reached one year of age, but are older than 9 months. They are given a graft in the hip area because their shoulder muscles are too weak.
Contraindications
Menactra vaccination is contraindicated for:
- Individual intolerance to the ingredients of the drug;
- Acute stage of infection;
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Due to the fact that during the production of Menactra, cleaning is carried out at the highest level, individual intolerance is very rare.
If side effects occur after vaccination, they are mild and do not leave any undesirable consequences.
Benefits of vaccination at the Miracle Doctor clinic
- The therapist carefully examines the patient and, only after making sure that there are no contraindications, does the vaccination;
- Vaccination is carried out with a high-quality certified vaccine;
- Side effects and complications are minimized;
- High efficiency is always achieved.
In our clinic, all vaccination rules are strictly followed, which ensures the expected result and prevents the development of unforeseen consequences. We will help you avoid problems associated with vaccine administration.
Do not neglect your health and the health of your children. Get vaccinated with the Menactra vaccine to prevent meningococcal infection!
How to help your child feel comfortable during vaccinations
Vaccination works better when the baby is calm and not afraid. To avoid scaring your child, try the following:
- Distract and calm your baby, hug him, talk softly to him
- Be calm, confident, smile. Maintain eye contact with your child, communicate with him, show him that you are nearby and everything is okay.
- Let your child hold a favorite toy or blanket.
- Ask your doctor if you can hold your baby on your lap and gently rub his back during vaccination.
- Be sure to praise your child after vaccination, tell him how great he is and how proud you are of him. Support your baby, even if he couldn't help but cry.
