Meningococcal diseases are caused by a germ (a kind of bacteria) called meningococcus. This germ can cause two serious diseases:

• meningitis, an infection of the fluid and lining that cover the brain and spinal cord, and
• septicemia, a serious blood infection.

You can protect your child from these diseases with a vaccine. There are two kinds available in Canada. Each vaccine provides different protection:

• Meningococcal C vaccine (MCV-C) is best for babies and young children. It protects against type C of the meningococcus germ, a common cause of meningococcal infections in Canada.
• MCV-4 is a “quadrivalent” vaccine. It helps protect children 2 years and older against all 4 preventable types of the meningococcal germ. This vaccine is usually only given to children at higher risk of getting meningococcal infections, or teenagers. It is not paid for by all provincial or territorial health plans.

Your doctor will know which vaccine is best, whether your child should get both, and at what age.

How common is meningococcal disease?

• In Canada, about 1 person in every 100,000 gets the disease.
• The germ-groups causing most meningococcal infections in Canada are B and C, with A, W-135, and Y causing others.
• Group C can cause outbreaks among teenagers 15 to 19 years of age. These outbreaks usually happen in one or two schools in an area and result in less than 5 cases.

How serious are these diseases?

• Without treatment, all children who get meningitis will die or suffer damage that lasts the rest of their lives. Even with treatment, about 1 in 20 children will die.
• About 1 in 20 children who survive meningitis will have brain damage.
• Septicemia can kill very quickly. Even with treatment, about 1 in 4 children with meningococcal septicemia will die or have permanent damage.

How do meningococcal diseases spread?

The germs that cause meningococcal diseases are commonly found in the mouth and throat. Unfortunately we cannot predict if they will spread to cause disease.

The germs are spread mostly by healthy carriers, people who have the germs living in their nose and throat but do not get sick from them.

• The disease spreads when people are in close, direct contact with each other, such as people living in the same house.
• The germs can also be spread through saliva, when people share food or drinks from a cup or can, water bottles, drinking straws, toothbrushes, mouthed toys, mouthguards, or musical instruments with a mouthpiece.
• A doctor will often give antibiotics to family members or others who come into close contact with someone who has meningococcal disease. This helps stop the germs from spreading.

How can you tell if your child has meningococcal meningitis?

• Early signs may be fever, drowsiness, reduced consciousness (your child doesn’t seem awake), irritability, fussiness (crying) and/or agitation.
• Other symptoms include: severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, pain when moving the head or neck, aches and pains, joint pain, and convulsions (seizures).
• Some children with meningococcal meningitis have a skin rash made up of red spots that don’t disappear when pressed. The spots can get quite large over a short period of time.

How can you tell if your child has meningococcal septicemia?

• Early signs are fever, aches and pains, joint pain and headache.
• Children with this disease get sick very quickly (in a few hours). They become drowsy, semi-conscious, irritable or agitated.
• Almost all children with septicemia have a skin rash that starts as red spots that can happen on any part of the body. The spots increase in size and number in just a few hours.
• The disease can move very quickly. Complications include low blood pressure (shock), coma, convulsions (seizures), and difficulty breathing.

When should my child get the vaccine?

• Your child should be immunized with MCV-C at 12 months of age. Your child may also get an earlier dose, depending on your province or territory’s immunization program.
• Children at higher risk for meningococcal infection (children with no spleen or who have certain medical conditions) should receive MCV-C at 2, 4 and 12 months of age and MCV-4 at 2 years of age. If in doubt, talk to your doctor.
• Adolescents may benefit from a booster dose of MCV-4 or MCV-C at about 12 years of age (although not all provinces or territories will pay for this).

How safe is the vaccine?

• All of the vaccines are very safe.
• They often cause redness, swelling or pain at the place where you get the needle for a short time.

Who should not get the vaccine?

• People who have had a bad allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine should not get it again.

Where and when can I get the vaccine?

Talk to your doctor or local public health clinic to find out where and when your child should get vaccinated in your province or territory.

• MCV-C vaccine can be started any time between 2 and 12 months of age, depending on your provincial and territorial immunization program. The costs of this vaccine are covered everywhere in Canada.
• The MCV-4 vaccine can be given any time after age 2 years of age. Many provinces currently cover the cost of MCV-4 vaccine.

More information from the CPS:

• Meningococcal vaccines in Canada: An update

For more information on vaccines in Canada, read Your Child’s Best Shot: A Parent’s Guide to Vaccination.

Reviewed by:
CPS Infectious Diseases and Immunization Committee

Last updated: October 2011