Definition

A vaccine that helps protect the body against infection with certain types of Neisseria meningitidis bacteria that cause meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is a serious, life-threatening illness that affects the blood and the thin layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord. There are five meningococcal vaccines approved in the United States. Three of the vaccines are meningococcal conjugate vaccines, which protect against four different strains of meningococcal bacteria. The other two vaccines are meningococcal recombinant protein vaccines, which protect against a fifth strain.