Children's Vaccines Health Center

Immunization against some of the organisms that can cause meningitis is the most effective way to prevent the illness. Some causes of meningitis that can be prevented by vaccines include:

• Measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine(What is a PDF document?) is routinely given to children between 12 months and 15 months of age and again at 4 to 6 years of age.
• Varicella (chickenpox) virus. Two doses of the chickenpox vaccine(What is a PDF document?) are recommended for children, the first at 12 to 15 months and the second at 4 to 6 years old. Older children, teens, and adults who have not had chickenpox can also get immunized.
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) virus. Hib vaccine(What is a PDF document?) is recommended for all children between 2 months and 5 years of age and anyone older than 5 who has a medical condition such as sickle cell disease or an impaired immune system.
• Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria.
  • The meningococcal conjugate vaccine(What is a PDF document?) helps protect against certain strains of Neisseria meningitidis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 2 doses of this vaccine for adolescents at age 11 or 12 and again at age 16.⁷ People age 21 or younger (including college freshmen who live in dormitories) who have not had the vaccine should get it as soon as possible. This vaccine is also recommended for certain people who may be at higher-than-normal risk, such as travelers to countries known to have outbreaks of meningitis, people without a spleen, and those who have HIV. Some people need a booster dose every 5 years.
  • Routine vaccination with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)(What is a PDF document?) is recommended for children ages 2 and younger to help prevent infection from Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Cochlear implants

A link has been found between meningitis and cochlear implants for severe hearing loss. To help protect against meningitis from Streptococcus pneumoniae, experts recommend that people with cochlear implants get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Also, some people with implants have ear infections before they get meningitis, so people with implants should receive prompt antibiotic treatment for ear infections.

Breast-feeding

Breast-feeding may protect children ages 2 to 5 months against meningitis caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria. But it is still important to give breast-fed babies the Hib vaccine.

For more information about immunizations, see the topic Immunizations.

Reduce your risk

You can take steps to reduce your risk of infection and prevent the spread of meningitis by:

• Avoiding people who have meningitis.
• Separating people with meningitis from other people in the home.
• Washing your hands often if you have meningitis or are caring for someone with meningitis. Wash your hands after using the toilet or helping a sick child use the toilet, after changing a sick baby's diaper, and after handling used bedsheets, towels, clothes, or personal items of a person who has meningitis.
• Avoiding insects and rodents that carry organisms that cause meningitis. If you live in or visit an area of the world where there are insects (such as mosquitoes and ticks) and rodents (such as mice and rats) that carry organisms that cause meningitis, take steps to avoid contact with them. For example, use insect repellent and keep all rodents out of your home and other buildings.