Final answer:
The meningococcal vaccine is recommended for people of certain ages, those living in communal settings like college dorms, and before engaging in activities that pose a risk of meningococcal meningitis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The administration of the meningococcal vaccine is recommended prior to starting therapies that can compromise the immune system, such as living in communal settings like college dorms, traveling to certain countries, or before certain medical treatments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically recommends that children between 11-12 years of age receive a single dose of a quadrivalent vaccine that protects against serotypes A, C, W, and Y, with a booster dose at age 16. This vaccine can provide individual and herd immunity against meningococcal meningitis. For those in high-risk settings, such as first-year college students or during epidemic outbreaks, additional booster shots or injections of the serogroup B meningococcal vaccine may be necessary.
Meningococcal infections are serious and can be life-threatening; therefore, vaccination is the best form of prevention. Without it, individuals, including infants who have lost maternal antibodies and young adults in communal living situations, are at an increased risk for developing infections. This is critical given that meningococcal meningitis can be caused by various serotypes of N. meningitidis, and preventive vaccination can significantly reduce the incidence of these infections.