What to expect with a meningitis vaccine

When you or your child get a vaccine, it’s natural to wonder about possible side effects. The meningitis vaccine is recommended for pre-teens, teens, and specific high-risk individuals with certain health conditions. As with most vaccines, mild side effects are common after the meningitis vaccine. 

Your child may be asking, “Do meningitis shots hurt?” According to the CDC, a sore arm is among the most typical side effects. Thankfully, side effects are rarely severe and resolve in a day or two. Here, we’ll look at the meningitis vaccine, including what it is and who gets it, what to expect when you get the vaccine, and more specific details about meningitis shot side effects.

What is the meningitis vaccine?

The meningitis vaccine protects against meningococcal disease or meningitis. “Meningitis is a dangerous infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord,” says Leah Alexander, MD, a pediatrician based in New Jersey.  

Meningitis isn’t prevalent in the U.S., as evidenced by the 210 cases the CDC reported in 2021. When someone gets meningitis, though, it can be serious and sometimes life-threatening, says Theodore Strange, MD, chair of medicine at Northwell Staten Island University Hospital in New York. “It can also spread in the blood throughout the body and cause lifelong disability and death,” he explains. 

“Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent meningococcal disease,” Dr. Strange says, adding that “the vaccine is highly effective.” According to CDC data, since the meningitis pre-teen and teen vaccine recommendation began in 2005, meningitis in this population has dropped by more than 90%. 

There are five meningococcal vaccines available in the United States, according to the CDC. Two recombinant protein meningococcal vaccines are effective against one strain, while three protect against multiple meningococcal bacteria. Dr. Alexander explains that the conjugate meningitis vaccine protects against four types of potentially deadly bacterial infections: A, C, W, and Y.

Who should get the meningitis vaccine?

The meningitis vaccine isn’t recommended for everyone but for certain people at higher risk of catching meningitis or who are most vulnerable to its effects, including those with weakened immune systems. According to Laura Purdy, MD, a Nashville-based family medicine physician, adolescents and young adults are at increased risk of disease due to their potential to reside in college dorms where meningitis outbreaks are known to occur.

The CDC recommends that all 11- or 12-year-old preteens get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. This guidance is part of the CDC’s 2023 child and adolescent immunization schedule, which the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) and five other major medical organizations use.

Others who may benefit from a meningitis vaccination include:

• Anyone traveling to countries with meningitis outbreaks or who are at increased risk of being in a situation where meningitis outbreaks occur
• Adults and children with sickle cell disease, HIV, or a damaged or removed spleen
• People with an immune disorder called complement component deficiency
• People taking complement inhibitor medications such as Ultomiris or Soliris

Military personnel are at higher risk for outbreaks, so the vaccine is recommended for young people in that population.

What to expect with the meningitis vaccine

The meningitis vaccine is administered as a shot, similar to most vaccines. The pharmacist or healthcare provider will administer the shot in the deltoid muscle, which is in the upper arm. It usually feels like a quick pinch or a sting.

“Pain during or following meningitis vaccine injection is typically mild, often described as a brief pinch at the injection site that subsides shortly thereafter,” Dr. Purdy says. You may feel a painful sensation during the vaccine administration as your healthcare provider injects the vaccine into your muscle, but this is short-lived. Many find it similar to a prick. 

Dr. Alexander says that pain, redness, and muscle soreness are the most common side effects among adolescents and adults receiving the meningitis vaccine. “These symptoms typically go away within a few days,” she assures. As Harvard Health points out, pain and soreness in the area of your arm where you got the vaccine is common among all vaccines.

And why exactly does it happen? When you get a vaccine, the muscle fibers in your arm become stretched, which causes an immune response to develop. According to Harvard Health, this triggers inflammation and feelings of pain and discomfort.

In addition to arm pain, some people may also faint or feel dizzy right after receiving vaccines. Tell your medical provider if you tend to pass out after medical procedures. Before getting the vaccine, you should also tell your provider if you’ve ever had an allergic or severe reaction to a previous meningitis vaccine. 

If you are mildly ill, such as having a cold, you can still get the vaccine. If you are more seriously ill, you may need to wait until you get better to be vaccinated. You can get the meningitis vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

Meningitis shot side effects 

Besides arm pain, most people feel fine right after the vaccination. Side effects may develop over the next few hours and could include:

• A red, tender area on the arm
• Slight swelling in the area where the shot was given
• Tiredness 
• Headache
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Fever
• Chills
• Loose stools
• Nausea

Some of these reactions happen in more than half of people who receive the vaccine. Dr. Purdy says meningitis vaccine side effects like pain, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches typically last about one to two days. 

Dr. Alexander advises contacting a healthcare professional if symptoms persist or become severe. If you have any signs of an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, dizziness, hives, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, seek emergency medical attention

When considering a meningitis vaccine, it’s important to not let the possibility of arm pain or side effects deter you or your child from getting the shot. “It’s essential to remember that vaccination benefits outweigh its risks significantly,” Dr. Purdy says.