Meningitis B: Are You Protected?

Meningococcal meningitis is an uncommon but serious illness with life-altering consequences. There are five different strains — A, C, W, Y, and B. Of these, meningitis B is the most dangerous and most deadly; about 1 in 10 people infected with meningitis B will die, sometimes within just 24 hours.

Students living and studying on college campuses are at 5 times the risk of contracting meningitis B vs. non-college students simply because of how the illness is spread. However, there are ways to protect yourself.

Learn more about the causes, symptoms, and long-term effects associated with meningitis B below, and ask your healthcare provider or campus student health services about the MenB vaccine.

What causes it?

Meningitis B is caused by a kind of bacteria that spreads through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions. This includes:

  • sharing eating utensils

  • kissing

  • sneezing or coughing

  • living or communing in close quarters

  • sharing e-cigarettes and vapes

  • sharing beverages

What are the symptoms?

Some of the most common symptoms of meningitis B are similar that of the flu or a cold. They include:

  • high fever

  • chills

  • lethargy

  • rash

  • headache and neck stiffness

What are the long-term effects?

Meningitis B is fatal in about 10% of cases. Of patients who recover, many suffer from severe after-effects, including:

  • permanent hearing loss

  • limb loss

  • brain damage

Protect Yourself: Ask About the MenB Vaccine

There are two vaccines that protect against meningococcal meningitis: the MenACWY vaccine and the MenB vaccine.

Many incoming college students have already received the MenACWY vaccine. However, very few have received the MenB vaccine, which protects against the more serious, more life-threatening form of meningococcal meningitis.

It’s estimated only 3 out of 10 seventeen-year-olds have received their first dose of the MenB vaccine.

What do I need to do?

Visit your healthcare provider or campus student health services and ask about the MenB vaccine.

What should I bring?

It’s helpful if you can access your childhood medical records to make sure you haven’t already started the MenB immunization schedule. Some get their first dose in the MenB series around age 16, when they receive their second dose of MenACWY.

How long until I’m protected?

About 1-6 months after your first dose of the MenB vaccine, you must return to your health care provider for a second dose.