“Meningococcal disease is a terrible, terrible disease,” explained Walter Orenstein, MD, of Emory University in Atlanta and former director of the U.S. Immunization Program. He recalled seeing pediatric cases during his infectious diseases training in the 1970s “that were just awful and unfortunately led to a number of children dying and the potential for brain damage in those surviving.”

The acute, severe disease is driven by the Neisseria meningitidis bacterium. Infection can lead to bacterial meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia. About half of people with the disease present with meningitis, which can include sudden onset of fever, headache, a stiff neck, nausea, and altered mental state.