Vaccination against meningococcal infection. Clinic "Uyezdny Doctor" on Rublevo-Uspenskoye Highway

Meningitis is a serious infectious disease that, in the absence of timely medical care, can lead to the death of the patient.

The disease mainly develops in people with weakened immune systems: children, elderly people, HIV-infected people, cancer patients. At the moment, vaccination against meningitis is the only reliable method of preventing infection.

WHAT IS MENINGITIS DANGEROUS?

Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes of the brain or spinal cord of infectious origin. The disease is characterized by rapid development - in the absence of medical care, the patient may lose vision and hearing within 24 hours. The cause of meningitis is the introduction of Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcus, and pneumococcus into the brain with blood. In newborns, the causative agent of infection can also be Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus. Important! Meningitis in 60% of cases is of a viral nature; in such cases, the infectious process is provoked by the Coxsackie or ECHO viruses.

SYMPTOMS AND DANGERS OF THE DISEASE

The first symptoms of meningitis are similar to the common cold, which complicates diagnosis. An infectious disease leads to an increase in body temperature, the development of a severe headache, vomiting and nausea. In some cases, a hemorrhagic rash appears on the skin. The danger of meningitis lies in the possibility of developing cerebral edema and secondary encephalitis (infection of brain tissue). As a result, meningoencephalitis develops, which is characterized by severe neurological symptoms. It persists for a long time after recovery and often becomes a cause of disability for the patient. However, the greatest danger is posed by a brain abscess, which occurs as a consequence of secondary bacterial meningitis against the background of pathologies of the ENT organs (sinusitis, otitis media, sinusitis). The pathology provokes the development of cerebral edema and displacement of the midline structures. Therefore, patients need not only drug treatment, but also surgical intervention.

WHO NEEDS IMMUNIZATION?

The infectious disease is more common in childhood, which is associated with an imperfect immune system. Meningitis is diagnosed in adults against the background of immunodeficiency states: elderly people, HIV-infected people, during chemotherapy. Therefore, vaccination against meningitis is indicated for the following groups of patients:

Children who were born prematurely;
Children and adults who have frequent seasonal respiratory infections;
Children under 2 years old;
Families with more than 1 child;
Children who have been bottle-fed or mixed-fed since birth;
Patients with advanced dental pathologies;
A history of recurrent bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis, sinusitis;
Medical and laboratory staff;
Children who regularly attend children's groups (kindergarten, early development groups, dances);
Patients with severe immunodeficiency conditions (HIV-infected, cancer patients);
Conscripts and students who will live in the dormitory;
People with severe cardiovascular pathologies;
Travelers and tourists who go to regions with a high probability of infection;
Patients who have had their spleen removed or have anatomical defects of the skull;
People who have been in contact with infected patients or carriers of meningococcal infection, Haemophilus influenzae.

The meningitis vaccine is also recommended for women who are planning a pregnancy. Important! Vaccination against meningitis in children helps reduce the risk of developing acute respiratory infections. Therefore, vaccination is indicated for children who are often ill. In many developed countries, vaccination against meningitis has become mandatory, which has made it possible to almost completely overcome the infection. Vaccination against meningitis is not included in the National Vaccination Calendar in Russia.

Vaccination against meningitis

You can reduce the cost of any vaccine by 20% and get a pre-vaccination examination for 800 rubles by taking advantage of our special offer Personal pediatrician + short-term deposit (3 or 6 months). Offer valid until August 15, 2020.

The main and most common form of meningococcal infection is meningitis - purulent inflammation of the membranes of the brain, and meningococcal infection itself is one of the most severe bacterial infections, with high mortality, even with timely treatment. The most effective method of control and prevention is vaccination against meningococcal infection. Vaccination is carried out to everyone who has been in contact with the patient, as well as to prevent infection.

Vaccination against meningococcal infection is recommended:

children over 2 years old, especially in preschool institutions, and living in unfavorable sanitary and hygienic conditions;
students of 1st and 2nd grades of school;
teenagers from organized groups living in hostels and boarding schools;
when the incidence of meningococcal infection is registered in the region of residence;
for mass vaccination during an epidemic caused by meningococci.

Vaccination against meningococcal infection is mandatory before traveling to regions unaffected by meningococcus, for tourists traveling to African countries, equatorial countries with a hot and humid climate, where meningococcal meningitis is especially common. Traveling children from 6 months of age are given the vaccine no later than 2 weeks before departure; Children under 2 years of age are given a second dose after 3 months. Children over 6 years old and adults can be vaccinated immediately before departure.

The causative agent of meningococcal infection, a gram-negative microorganism, is divided into a number of serological groups: A, B, C, X, Y, Z, 29E, W-135, L. Meningococci of serogroups A, C most often cause epidemics, and the currently available meningococcal vaccines A+C are effective and safe.

The MENINGO A+C vaccine (made in France) is most successfully used in practice. MENINGO A+C contains purified lyophilized polysaccharides of meningococci corresponding to (A, C) serogroups. Due to the absence of whole bacteria in the MENINGO A+C vaccine, it can be used in children from the age of two. The reliability of the MENINGO A+C vaccine in preventing the spread of infection and creating immunity to the causative agent of meningococcal infection in vaccinated people has been confirmed by immunization practice.

Vaccination against meningococcal disease requires one dose of vaccine. Within two weeks after vaccination, specific antibodies increase, ensuring the development of immunity to the infectious agent, which persists in children for at least 2 years. In adults, antibodies after vaccination last up to 10 years.

The MENINGO A+C vaccine is slightly reactogenic. After vaccination, slight soreness at the injection site and a slight increase in body temperature may occur; these symptoms go away on their own after a few days.

Contraindications to vaccination against meningococcal infection are acute infectious and progressive diseases.

Menactra (MENAKTRA) vaccine for the prevention of meningococcal infections SANOFI PASTEUR, Inc. (USA) - 5700 rub.

Mandatory examination before vaccination - 1500 rubles.

How to reduce the cost?
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT PRICES

FEATURES OF VACCINATION

The following features of immunoprophylaxis are distinguished:

Haemophilus influenzae infection is characterized by a severe course, complications often develop. Mostly children aged 5-6 years old suffer from Haemophilus influenzae. The effectiveness of the vaccine reaches 95%, revaccination leads to an exponential increase in the number of antibodies;
Pneumococci cause meningitis in children under 2 years of age and patients over 65 years of age. The disease is often combined with pneumonia. Mass immunoprophylaxis can reduce the risk of developing infection by 80%;
The development of meningococcal infection is observed mainly in infants under 1 year of age. The causative agent is meningococci types A, B, C, W-135, Y. Vaccination against meningococcal infection helps to form an immune response in 90% of cases, the duration of which varies from 2 to 10 years.

Meningococcal infections

The causative agent of meningococcal infection is the bacterium of the same name - meningococcus, or Neisseria meningitidis.
The microorganism has several serogroups with letter designations. Group A meningococci are considered the most pathogenic, but there have been outbreaks of infection caused by strains of groups B and C. The source of infection is only a person - the patient or the carrier. The route of infection is airborne. Crowding of people in enclosed spaces (kindergartens, schools, etc.) plays a significant role in the spread of germs. More than 90% of cases of the disease occur in childhood and adolescence - from 2-3 months of life to 14-15 years. Clinical forms of meningococcal infection vary from asymptomatic to severe. Thus, in response to the entry of meningococcus into the human body, the development of both nasopharyngitis and meningoencephalitis with meningococcemia is likely. Damage to other organs - the heart, lungs, joints, eye membranes, peripheral nerves - is less common. Asymptomatic carriage also exists.

Medical card according to Form 026/у for kindergarten and school

Cost: 8,950 rub.

More details

Getting on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, meningococcus causes inflammatory changes, then the pathogen enters the bloodstream, spreads with the bloodstream to other organs, affecting them. The pathological effect of meningococcus is also realized through the action of endotoxin. This substance is released when the microbe dies and has a powerful toxic effect on the nervous and vascular systems of the patient’s body.

Meningococcal infection is dangerous due to its high mortality rate in severe forms; complications that develop after the infection are also significant (epileptiform syndrome, hydrocephalus, partial atrophy of the optic or auditory nerves).

The most common complications of meningitis:

visual or auditory impairment - up to complete loss of vision or hearing;
movement disorders;
necrotic and gangrenous lesions of the fingers and toes, ears;
associated (secondary) purulent infections;
intellectual development disorder.

The only way to reliably protect a child from meningococcal infection is a timely vaccination.

VACCINES AGAINST MENINGOCOCCUS

Vaccine preparations help cope with meningococci of half groups A, C, W-135, Y. The following vaccines are allowed in Russia:

Meningococcal vaccine produced in Russia. Allows protection against meningococci serotypes A and C, but does not prevent the development of purulent meningococcal infection. Use is allowed from 1.5 years, after 3 years revaccination is required;
Meningo A+C made in France. The drug prevents the development of cerebrospinal meningitis. Widely used in adults and children over 1.5 years old;
Mencevax ACWY (Belgium). The drug reduces the risk of developing meningococcal infection caused by meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, Y. Use for vaccination of children over 2 years of age and adults is allowed;
Menactra (USA). Vaccination allows you to build immunity to pathogens that are included in serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 in children over 2 years of age and adults up to 55 years of age.

The drug is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.

The first vaccine against meningitis for children from 9 months has become available in Russia

On September 9, a press conference was held at TASS (Ekaterinburg) on the problem of the spread of meningococcal infection among young children and modern vaccination methods.

Chief physician of the municipal center for medical prevention, chief epidemiologist of the city of Yekaterinburg, Ph.D. Alexander Kharitonov , Associate Professor of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Ural State Medical Academy, Ministry of Health, Ph.D. Pavel Kuznetsov , Marketing Director of the representative office of Sanofi Pasteur in Russia, Ph.D. Elena Shtykunova spoke about the features of the first meningococcal vaccine for young children, as well as the significance of its entry into the Russian market.

“Now we have the opportunity to introduce our innovative product to the Russian market - a vaccine that can protect adults and children from meningococcal infection from the age of nine months. For more than 40 years, our company has been fulfilling its mission to protect people from this serious infection,” explained Elena Shtykunova. — With the advent of a new vaccine, Russia has become one of the countries in which it is possible to prevent meningitis. The vaccine has proven its effectiveness and has a favorable safety profile. The vaccine is compatible with most scheduled vaccinations. Since July of this year it has been available in all regions of Russia.”

“Meningococcal infection is a very serious disease. The danger is that it has a short incubation period: from several days to two weeks. The disease begins with signs of a respiratory infection: malaise, headache, fever, but the child’s condition can worsen at any time. Therefore, without providing competent medical care within 24 hours, the patient may die,” added Alexander Kharitonov. “Statistics show that the incidence of meningococcal infection in Russia is decreasing, but since 2011 in Yekaterinburg, unfortunately, there has been an increase in the disease. There is a certain epidemiological pattern: all infections have a cyclical rise and fall. Therefore, today we can say that meningococcal infection tends to increase in other regions. We must understand that among us there are not only sick people, but also carriers of infection. Ekaterinburg has developed clear regulations for medical workers. All children with unclear symptoms are hospitalized in infectious diseases hospitals. Not only the death outcome is terrible, but also complications after the illness. The most important task is the prevention of meningococcal infection and one of the measures is vaccination. At risk are young children, adolescents and the elderly. Parents can contact their pediatrician, coordinate the vaccination, and purchase the vaccine at the pharmacy.

“Clinical manifestations of meningococcal infection are varied: from carriage to very complex consequences. Vaccination prevention will help to avoid them,” clarified Pavel Kuznetsov. “The peculiarity of the new Menactra vaccine is that it can be used in children as early as nine months, forming immunity in that age group that was previously defenseless against meningococcal meningitis. If previously situational vaccination was practiced in Russia during an epidemic of meningococcal infection, the new vaccine makes it possible to prevent this disease.”

At the end of the press conference, Elena Shtykunova added that from September 15 to 30, at the initiative of the Union of Pediatricians of Russia, All-Russian Meningitis Vaccination Days will be held. In Yekaterinburg, the initiative was supported by the New Hospital Immunoprophylaxis Center, medical, Pean and UMMC Health. Parents will be able to consult with specialists and vaccinate their child. The press conference ended with a symbolic action of solidarity “Together against meningitis”: the participants of the press conference left colorful handprints on the easel.

POSSIBLE ADVERSE REACTIONS

Meningitis vaccines are usually well tolerated. However, in some patients, vaccination provokes the following side effects:

Weakness;
Redness at the injection site, development of painful swelling;
Fever in rare cases;
Severe allergies, accompanied by swelling of the oral cavity, difficulty breathing, tachycardia, shortness of breath, pale skin, urticaria;
Possible exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Most adverse reactions do not require special drug therapy. However, if an allergy develops, the patient needs to take an antihistamine; if symptoms are severe, an ambulance must be called.