Make Menactra Vaccine for Meningococcemia Mandatory in US!

This petition is in remembrance of Landan Harris who died from Meningococcemia (also known as Bacterial Meningitis) at the innocent age of 3 on November 16th, 2006 in Ohio. Sweet Landan fought for his life for 23 hard hours before his body could not take it any longer. You can learn more about Landan at www.angellandan.com

Child in main photo is Charlotte Cleverley-Bisman, a survivor of Meningococcemia. Charlotte endured a long battle with a full-blown infection in 2004 which resulted in her having all 4 limbs amputated.
You can learn more about Baby Charlotte at babycharlotte.co.nz

Landan is just one of many children who have been lost or handicapped from this tragic disease which has a 90% mortality rate. The reason the rate is so high is because Meningococcemia has flu-like and cold-like symptoms so usually by the time the disease has been discovered Sepsis has already set in which is a very dangerous and damaging infection in the blood stream. The most recognizable sign that someone has Meningococcemia is when the Septicemia sets in causing purple bruise-like splotching.

Our goal? To make Menactra a mandatory vaccine for children in the US AND to make it a vaccine covered by insurance companies. In Canada, the vaccine is already mandatory for children. The UK also takes awareness on Meningococcemia very serious while in the US most parents aren't even aware of it's existence.

More information on Menactra:
"Although there has been a meningococcal vaccine available since the 1970s (Menomune), it was not very popular because its protection did not last very long. Fortunately, a new meningococcal vaccine called Menactra is now available and it is expected to offer better and more long lasting protection. Why do we need a meningococcal vaccine? The meningococcal bacteria is not well known by most parents, but it is an important cause of serious infections in children. In fact, meningococcal disease is one of the leading causes of bacterial meningitis and can lead to outbreaks and epidemics. It can also cause meningococcemia, a serious and life-threatening blood infection.

Ever wonder why your Pediatrician gets so concerned when your child has a fever and a rash?

It is mostly because of meningococcemia. Children with this infection can develop a fever and red or purple spots on their skin. These children can then quickly worsen, often over just 12-24 hours, and become critically ill, with about 10-15% of them dying, even with proper treatment.

The fact that invasive meningococcal disease so often strikes previously healthy children, the majority of whom were perfectly fine less than 24 hours of ending up in the hospital, and worsens so quickly (making it hard to diagnose), makes this infection even more scary.

Even children who survive can have serious sequela, including becoming deaf, having seizures and strokes, or amputation of their arms, legs, fingers, and/or toes.

So a meningococcal infection is clearly something that you don't want your kids to get...

Who gets meningococcal disease? Infants under 12 months old are most likely to get meningococcal disease. There is then another peak in the rate of meningococcal disease among teens and young adults, with the highest rates being among freshman college students who are living in dormitories.

Keep in mind that meningococcal disease is still rare though, only affecting about 2,600 people in the United States each year.

Who should get Menactra? It is currently recommended that Menactra be given to all children at their routine well child visit to their doctor when they are 11 or 12 years old. Teens should also get it when they start high school or if they are going to be living in a dorm at college and haven't gotten a meningococcal vaccine yet.

According to the CDC, meningococcal vaccine is also recommended for teens who want to decrease their risk of meningococcal disease and:

• U.S. military recruits
• anyone traveling to, or living in, a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts of Africa
• anyone who has a damaged spleen, or whose spleen has been removed
• anyone who has terminal complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder)
• people who might have been exposed to meningitis during an outbreak
• microbiologists who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria

Keep in mind that both Menactra and Menomune will be available now, with Menactra being the preferred vaccine for people between the ages of 11 to 55 years of age. Menomune (the older vaccine) can still be given to children between the ages of 2 and 10 years and people over age 55. Why don't younger kids get the meningococcal vaccines?Although younger children do get meningococcal disease, the type of meningococcal bacteria that affects them is unfortunately not covered by the current meningococcal vaccines.

Menactra and Menomune only cover meningococcal bacteria types A, C, Y, and W-135, which do commonly cause infections in older children and young adults. Infants, on the other hand, are usually infected with type B of the meningococcal bacteria, for which there is no vaccine licensed in the United States yet.

About 48 percent of cases among infants are vaccine preventable though, so hopefully Menactra will eventually be found to be safe and effective for younger children too.

Does Menactra have thimerosal?No. Like most vaccines currently given to children, Menactra is free of thimerosal and other preservatives. Although there is no proven link between thimerosal, mercury, and autism, that this new vaccine has no preservatives is likely welcome news to most parents.

When will Menactra be available?
Menactra is available now, but that doesn't mean that your doctor will have it yet.

Unfortunately, Menactra is an expensive vaccine and it usually takes time for insurance companies to cover the cost of paying for and giving a new vaccine. It may help to call your insurance company and let them know that you want them to cover this important vaccine."
Above article credit: http://pediatrics.about.com/od/immunizations/a/05_menactra.htm