The meningococcal vaccine has been recommended for children at 11-12 years of age since 2005 and has been very effective at preventing this serious and often deadly disease. Although the vaccine is very effective, it has been found that a booster dose is needed at age 16 in order to maximize immunity and to further prevent the disease at age 18 and beyond into college years, when the risk of disease is higher. It is recommended that all 16 year olds receive the booster dose. Older children who have received only one dose also need the booster dose as well.
They also added a recommendation that persons age 2-55 years old with certain immune deficiencies receive a 2-dose series.
