Today's New England Journal of Medicine has a report on the study of vaccines for meningitis in children. It says that cases of pneumococcal meningitis dropped 64% in children under age 2 from 1998-1999 to 2004-2005. However, as with all vaccines, doctors aren't certain as to how long the immunity will last.
In addition, all those children who aren't getting meningitis are not spreading it to other people; the researchers also saw a 30% drop in the overall population and a 54% drop in people over age 65.
Here's a USA Today story on the study:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-14-prevnar-meningitis_N.htm
Tell us
Vaccines are never without worry, especially in today's world. How do you feel about the meningitis vaccine? Have your children had it, or is it something you would consider getting for them? (The CDC recommends it for kids 2 months to 2 years old, as well as in 2- to 5-year-olds who are at greater risk.)