Meningococcal disease is a serious illness, caused by a bacteria. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children 2-18 years old in the United States.
Meningococcal disease can also cause blood infections.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease. But it is most common in infants less than one year of age, and in people with certain medical conditions. College freshman, particularly those living in dormitories, have a slightly increased risk of getting meningococcal disease. Menningococcal vaccine can prevent 2 or the 3 important types of meningococcal disease in older children and adults. Menningococcal vaccine is not effective in preventing all types of the disease.