Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis (infection of the lining around the brain and spinal cord) and meningococcal bloodstream infection (septicemia). The disease can become life-threatening within hours, making early recognition and prevention critical.
There are several serogroups of meningococcal bacteria, but five are responsible for most disease worldwide: A, B, C, W, and Y.
Vaccines in the United States protect against:
- MenACWY vaccine: Serogroups A, C, W, and Y
- MenB vaccine: Serogroup B
Both vaccines are important because together they provide protection against the five major disease-causing serogroups.
The CDC recommends:
- Age 11–12: First dose of the MenACWY vaccine
- Age 16: MenACWY booster dose
- Age 16–23 (preferred 16–18): Talk with your healthcare provider about receiving the MenB vaccine, which protects against meningococcal serogroup B.
Receiving the MenACWY booster does not protect against serogroup B—MenB is a separate vaccine.
While anyone can develop meningococcal disease, certain groups are at increased risk, including:
- Infants
- Teenagers and young adults
- College students living in residence halls
- Military recruits
- People with certain immune conditions
- Travelers to areas where meningococcal disease is more common
- People exposed during an outbreak
Yes. Anyone, at any age, can develop meningococcal disease.
However, teenagers and young adults have a higher risk because of behaviors that increase exposure to bacteria, including:
- Living in close quarters
- Sharing drinks or eating utensils
- Sharing vape devices, cigarettes, or lip products
- Kissing
- Frequent close social contact
- Poor hand hygiene
The bacteria spread through saliva and respiratory droplets during close or prolonged contact.
Examples include:
- Kissing
- Sharing drinks, utensils, or water bottles
- Sharing vape devices or cigarettes
- Living in the same household or dorm room
- Prolonged face-to-face contact
It is not spread through casual contact like walking past someone.
Meningococcal disease progresses rapidly and is considered a medical emergency.
- Approximately 1 in 10 people who develop meningococcal disease die, even with treatment.
- Up to 1 in 5 survivors experience lifelong complications, including:
- Brain damage
- Hearing loss
- Vision impairment
- Severe scarring
- Internal organ damage
- Limb amputations
Many survivors face months or years of rehabilitation, multiple surgeries, and lifelong physical, emotional, and financial challenges.
Despite advances in modern medicine, meningococcal disease can progress faster than doctors are able to stop it. While prompt treatment with antibiotics and supportive hospital care saves lives, there is no way to reverse the damage once the bacteria and the body's inflammatory response have begun causing severe injury. That's why prevention through vaccination is so important.
Jamie was 20 years old and attending the University of Texas at Austin when she developed meningococcal disease in 2008.
She survived after spending seven months in the hospital and ultimately underwent amputations of both legs below the knee and all ten fingers. Today, Jamie shares her story to educate others and help prevent families from experiencing what hers did.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and worsen within hours.
Common symptoms include:
- High fever
- Severe headache
- Stiff neck
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Confusion
- Extreme fatigue
- Cold hands and feet
- A purple or red rash that does not fade when pressed
If you suspect meningococcal disease, seek emergency medical care immediately.
If you're unsure, talk with your healthcare provider.
They can:
- Review your vaccination records
- Determine which vaccines you've already received
- Recommend whether you should receive MenACWY, MenB, or both
If records cannot be found, receiving another dose is generally considered safe. Your healthcare provider can help determine the best approach based on your age and health history.
Not every case can be prevented, but vaccination is one of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of meningococcal disease.
Other ways to reduce spread include:
- Washing your hands
- Avoiding sharing drinks and personal items
- Staying home when sick
- Seeking medical attention quickly if symptoms develop
These terms are often used interchangeably, but they aren't exactly the same.
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective lining around the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or other organisms.
Meningococcal disease is a specific bacterial infection caused by Neisseria meningitidis. The bacteria can infect the lining around the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), the bloodstream (called meningococcal septicemia), or both.Because it can progress so rapidly, meningococcal disease is considered one of the most serious forms of bacterial meningitis.
Yes, although vaccination greatly reduces the risk.
No vaccine is 100% effective, but meningococcal vaccines provide strong protection against the serogroups they are designed to prevent and significantly reduce the risk of severe disease. Staying up to date on the recommended vaccination schedule is the best way to protect yourself.
If you have questions about which meningococcal vaccines you've received—or whether you should receive additional protection, such as the MenB vaccine—talk with your healthcare provider. They can review your vaccination history and recommend the best course of action based on your age, health, and risk factors.
Requirements vary by state and by college or university.
Many colleges require proof of a MenACWY vaccination, particularly for students living in residence halls. However, MenB vaccination is less commonly required, even though college students and young adults are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease, and many recent college campus outbreaks have been caused by serogroup B.
The J.A.M.I.E. Group strongly encourages all students attending college or university to talk with their healthcare provider and make sure they are protected against all five vaccine-preventable serogroups (A, B, C, W, and Y). While schools may only require MenACWY, it's important to discuss with your doctor MenB to be protected against all groups.
It's also important to remember that meningococcal disease doesn't only affect students living in dorms.
Jamie was 20 years old when she contracted meningococcal disease while attending the University of Texas at Austin, a campus with more than 55,000 undergraduate students. She lived off campus, did not have roommates, attended classes, and lived an active social life. Her experience is a reminder that while certain living situations may increase risk, any college student can be exposed to meningococcal disease.
Yes.
Although rare, infants have one of the highest rates of meningococcal disease. Because infants have developing immune systems, they are especially vulnerable to severe infection.
Certain infants who have increased risk factors may be recommended to receive meningococcal vaccination earlier than the routine schedule.
Yes—but only until they've received appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Meningococcal disease spreads through saliva and respiratory droplets during close or prolonged contact, such as kissing, sharing drinks or utensils, sharing vape devices or cigarettes, or living in the same household.
Once a person begins appropriate antibiotic treatment, they are generally no longer considered contagious after about 24 hours. Healthcare providers will also identify close contacts who may need preventive antibiotics to reduce their risk of becoming sick.
If you believe you've been exposed to someone with meningococcal disease, contact your healthcare provider immediately. Preventive antibiotics are most effective when started as soon as possible.
Meningococcal disease is not as contagious as illnesses like the flu or COVID-19. It usually requires close or prolonged contact with an infected person's saliva or respiratory secretions.
Examples of activities that can spread the bacteria include:
- Kissing
- Sharing drinks, eating utensils, or water bottles
- Sharing lip products, vape devices, or cigarettes
- Living in the same household or dorm room
- Prolonged, close face-to-face contact
It is not spread through casual contact, such as walking past someone, sitting in the same classroom, or briefly interacting with them.
Yes—but it must be treated immediately.
Doctors use intravenous antibiotics and intensive supportive hospital care. Even with rapid treatment, meningococcal disease can cause permanent disability or death because the infection progresses so quickly.
That's why prevention through vaccination remains so important.
Very quickly.
A person can go from feeling like they have the flu to becoming critically ill within hours.
Because early symptoms often resemble common viral illnesses, it's important to seek emergency medical care if symptoms worsen rapidly or are accompanied by a stiff neck, severe headache, confusion, sensitivity to light, or a rash.
Not everyone develops a rash, but when it appears, it can be a sign of meningococcal septicemia.
The rash often begins as small red or purple spots that can quickly spread and become larger, darker patches. Unlike many other rashes, it may not fade when pressed with a clear drinking glass (sometimes called the "glass test"), though you should never wait for a rash before seeking medical attention if meningococcal disease is suspected.
Most private insurance plans, Medicaid, and many public health programs cover recommended meningococcal vaccines with little or no out-of-pocket cost.
Coverage can vary based on your age, insurance plan, and vaccination history. If you're unsure, contact your insurance provider, healthcare provider, or local pharmacy.
Meningococcal vaccines are widely available at:
- Primary care and pediatric offices
- Family medicine clinics
- Pharmacies (age restrictions may vary by state)
- Local health departments
- College and university health centers
- Some community vaccination clinics
If you're unsure where to start, ask your healthcare provider or local pharmacist.