The bacterial meningitis vaccine, Menactra has been now been approved for use on people between the ages of 2 and 10 years. The FDA has previously approved Menactra, in 2005, for people between the ages of 11 and 55.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the lining that surrounds the spinal cord and brain and can result in death or permanent injury to the brain and nervous system. An estimated 2,600 people in the U.S. contract meningitis annually and about 10% die.
“Approving Menactra for younger children offers another option for health care providers and parents. Now there are two vaccines available for children between 2 and 10 years of age who may be at increased risk of meningitis,” said Jesse L. Goodman, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Previous, only the Menomune vaccine was available for children under 11, Now there are two vaccines available to protect against the four groups of Neisseria meningitidis.
Currently, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that children between the ages of 2 and 10, who are at increased risk, receive the vaccine.
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