The Right Thing to Do

http://http://youtu.be/IvbG2HpFOPs

All of the advocates featured in our new PSA (learn more about Patti, Jan and the Boyles) have been affected by serogroup B meningococcal disease. They are not alone. Serogroup B accounts for about one-third of all meningococcal disease cases in the U.S., and, like the other strains, it can result in brain damage, hearing loss, kidney failure, limb amputations or even death.

I have heard over and over from parents that they thought their children were fully protected because they were vaccinated with the currently recommended vaccine, which protects against four major strains of meningococcal disease, but does not protect against serogroup B. Thankfully, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved two vaccines for the prevention of serogroup B meningococcal disease in individuals ages 10 to 25. Previously, there had been no approved serogroup B vaccines in the U.S.

Now that we have the tools to fully protect our children:

• We encourage policymakers to recommend these vaccines for adolescents who are at high risk for infection.

• We urge parents to vaccinate their children on schedule with the currently recommended meningococcal vaccine and talk to their child’s healthcare provider about getting them the vaccination against serogroup B.

• We ask you to help us by sharing this public service video through your social media networks and to encourage everyone you know to do the same.

Let’s work together to protect our children from all serogroups of meningococcal disease. It’s the right thing to do.