The National Meningitis Association (NMA) in collaboration with the vaccines division of Sanofi Pasteur announced the launch of a new educational initiative about CDC’s recommended second dose of the meningococcal meningitis vaccine (MenACWY) for adolescents at age 16.

According to CDC, “Vaccination is the best defense against meningococcal meningitis but more than half of U.S. teens have not yet received the recommended second dose of MenACWY.

The campaign website features firsthand stories of meningococcal meningitis survivors and advocates whose lives have been impacted by the disease. Krystle Beauchamp Grindley, meningitis disease survivor and NMA advocate said, “I knew bacterial meningitis was a potentially deadly disease, but I didn’t think it would ever affect me, until it did. Looking back on my time in the hospital and the long recovery, I wish I could go back, reverse time and gotten the shot. I encourage every parent to talk to their teen’s doctor about getting the critical second dose of MenACWY at 16.”

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