Vaccine Against Meningitis
Is there a vaccine against meningitis?
Currently, several vaccines are available against meningococcus. We have vaccines against types A, C and Y, but unfortunately not yet prepared an effective meningococcal vaccine for serogroup B, which is most common in our environment.
The vaccine is made from small bits of the bacteria, known as the polysaccharides, which stimulate our defense system to create antibodies against the meningococcus. Thus, if our bodies come into contact at some point with the pathogen, we would have already sufficient defense weapons to destroy it.
Keep in mind that the vaccine does not prevent the occurrence of other types of meningitis bacteria, such as the Haemophilus influenzae or meningococcal type B.How safe is the vaccine against meningitis?
The vaccine has been using since 1992 and is routinely a very safe and effective vaccine, with few side effects and irrelevant.
The main side effects that occur in vaccinated children is a slight increase in body temperature or the appearance of a small swelling on the injection of the vaccine, which disappears in a few days.
What are the contraindications of the meningococcal vaccine?
There are only three medical reasons why the vaccine is contraindicated and, therefore, banned his administration: when there is fever the day will be administered if the patient has had a previous severe allergic reaction, or if the patient you are pregnant.
credit to: Dr. Pedro Gargantilla Madera, Dra. Gillian Rice