Meningitis Vaccine, Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: meningitis vaccine, injection; Meningococcal vaccine; Menomune-A/C/Y/W-135; MPSV4

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to provide protection against certain types of meningitis. It is usually recommended in children 2 through 10 years of age and adults older than age 55 who are at increased risk for meningitis.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an allergic reaction to latex or thimerosal (a preservative)
• a weakened immune system from diseases such as HIV/AIDS or from cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunosuppressants, or steroid medicine.

If you are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other mild infection, you may still be able to get your shot. Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have an infection of any kind.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

These shots are given by your healthcare provider. You will be protected against meningitis after 7 to 10 days. If you are at high risk for infection, you may need a booster shot after 5 years. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

What should I watch out for?

Your provider may not give this vaccine at the same time as vaccines for pertussis (whooping cough) or typhoid. Talk with your provider about how long to wait before you receive other vaccines.

Most people who get this vaccine do not have any problems with it. You may have redness or soreness where the shot was given. These side effects usually last 1 or 2 days. Contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms last longer or if you feel worse.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Fever, chills, sudden and severe tiredness or weakness.

Other: Tenderness, pain, redness, or a lump on your skin where the shot was given; headache.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), daclizumab (Zenapax), glatiramer (Copaxone), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (Prograf), and sirolimus (Rapamune)
• chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or medicines to treat cancer
• corticosteroids such as cortisone (Cortone), dexamethasone (Dexone, Dexameth), fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Delta-Cortef, Prelone), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristocort)

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

____________________________________________________

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

Developed by RelayHealth
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.