Tru Patient StoriesMeet Rayna, Katelyn, and Lauren, real patients who would like to share their stories—and how their experience taught them the importance of getting vaccinated against MenB.RaynaKatelynLaurenTypical adolescent and young adult sharing behaviors increase the risk of MenB.1-4Your adolescent and young adult patients share many things. Unfortunately, their typical behaviors—group activities; sharing cups, drinks, and utensils; close-quartered living; and kissing—increase MenB risk.1-4
The impact of MenBMenB is uncommon, but potentially fatal, and early symptoms may seem like the flu.2,5,6Early signs and symptoms—such as nausea and vomiting—of MenB may be misinterpreted as the flu, delaying adolescents and young adults from seeking immediate medical attention, making diagnosis challenging. In fact, the average time before adolescents and young adults are taken to a hospital is 12 to 19 hours.6-8
In 24 hours, MenB can kill.6
~10% of MenB cases lead to death, even with appropriate antibiotic therapy.2,9
~20% of those who survive MenB will have permanent or long-term sequelae such as10,11:
• Hearing impairment
• Motor impairment
• Skin scarring
• Limb amputation
• Neurological dysfunction
From 2011 to 2019,9 MenB has been responsible for all US college outbreaks of meningococcal disease.12
MenB remains unpredictable; ~95% of all meningococcal disease cases are sporadic.2
Why adolescents and young adults?
Among 10- through 25-year-olds, the incidence of MenB peaks around 19 years of age.13
While uncommon, MenB accounted for approximately 60% of all vaccine-type meningococcal disease cases in persons 16 to 23 years of age in the United States in 2018.14*
Approximately 50-60 cases of MenB are reported annually in adolescents and young adults in the United States.14TitleContact your Pfizer Sales Representative or call a Vaccine Specialist at 1-800-666-7248.References:1. Tully J, Viner RM, Coen PG, et al. Risk and protective factors for meningococcal disease in adolescents: matched cohort study. BMJ. 2006;332(7539):445-450. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. http://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/index.html. Updated January 21, 2020. Accessed April 1, 2021. 3. Dwilow R, Fanella S. Invasive meningococcal disease in the 21st century—an update for the clinician. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2015;15(2):1-9. 4. Balmer P, Burman C, Serra L, York LJ. Impact of meningococcal vaccination on carriage and disease transmission: a review of the literature. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2018;14(5):1118-1130. 5. Soeters HM, McNamara LA, Whaley M, et al. Serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak and carriage evaluation at a college—Rhode Island, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2015;64(22):606-607. 6. Thompson MJ, Ninis N, Perera R, et al. Clinical recognition of meningococcal disease in children and adolescents. Lancet. 2006;367(9508):397-403. 7. Brandtzaeg P. Pathogenesis and pathophysiology of invasive meningococcal disease. In: Frosch M, Maiden MCJ, eds. Handbook of Meningococcal Disease: Infection Biology, Vaccination, Clinical Management. Wiley-VCH; 2006:427-480. 8. van Deuren M, Brandtzaeg P, van der Meer JWM. Update on meningococcal disease with emphasis on pathogenesis and clinical management. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2000;13(1):144-166. 9. Cohn AC, MacNeil JR, Harrison LH, et al. Changes in Neisseria meningitidis disease epidemiology in the United States, 1998-2007: implications for prevention of meningococcal disease. Clin Infect Dis. 2010;50(2):184-191. 10. Bettinger JA, Scheifele DW, Le Saux N, Halperin SA, Vaudry W, Tsang R; Members of Canadian Immunization Monitoring Program, Active (IMPACT). The disease burden of invasive meningococcal serogroup B disease in Canada. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013;32(1):e20-e25. 11. Borg J, Christie D, Coen PG, Booy R, Viner RM. Outcomes of meningococcal disease in adolescence: prospective, matched-cohort study. Pediatrics. 2009;12(3):e502-e509. 12. Marshall GS, Dempsey AF, Srivistava A, Isturiz RE. US college students are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2020;9(2):244-247. 13. National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Addressing the challenges of serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreaks on campuses: a report by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Accessed April 1, 2021. https://www.nfid.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/meningococcal-b-report.pdf. 14. Enhanced meningococcal disease surveillance report, 2021. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Accessed November 6, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/downloads/NCIRD-EMS-Report-2021.pdf.