If your parents aren’t on board with the vaccine, here are some things you can try:

1. • Talk to your parents – Explain why you want the vaccine, such as how serious meningitis can be and how the vaccine helps protect you. Sharing information from doctors or health organizations might help them understand.
   • Involve a healthcare professional – If your parents are unsure, suggest talking to a doctor together. They can explain the vaccine’s importance and safety.
   • Discuss your reasons – Let your parents know why it’s important for your health, whether it’s due to school, travel, or just preventing illness.
   • Check with a healthcare provider – If you’re 16 or older, you can make your own healthcare decisions. If you’re under 16, you’ll still need parental consent, but a doctor can help explain the vaccine’s importance.

Having an open conversation with your parents is key. If they still have concerns, a healthcare provider’s advice could help them make a decision

Meningitis changes lives forever. Its impact is devastating, cruel and life changing and most importantly PREVENTABLE

In New Zealand, whether you need your parents’ permission for vaccinations depends on your age:

1. • Under 16 years old – You generally need your parents’ permission, as they are responsible for your healthcare decisions.
   • 16 and 17 years old – You can make your own decision to get vaccinated, but it’s still a good idea to talk to your parents if you have questions.
   • 18 years and older – You can make all medical decisions, including vaccinations, without needing parental consent.

Always check with your healthcare provider for specific guidelines.

• Yes, meningitis kills, it is very serious and if untreated can be life-threatening

Meningitis can spread quickly and in several ways:

• Close contact – Bacterial and viral meningitis can spread through hugs, kisses, or sharing drinks and utensils, vapes or even lipsticks.
• Airborne droplets – It can spread through coughing, sneezing, or talking.
• Contact with infected fluids – Touching saliva, mucus, or other bodily fluids from someone sick can lead to infection.
• Spread from other infections – Infections like ear, sinus, or throat infections can spread to the meninges.
• Fungal infections – Rarely, fungi can cause meningitis, especially in people with weak immune systems.
• Medical procedures – In rare cases, bacteria can enter during surgeries or procedures like spinal taps.

Young people aged between 13 – 25 years are considered to be a high-risk age group of contracting meningitis.  Meningitis can cause several noticeable symptoms, including:

• Severe headache
• Fever
• Stiff neck
• Sensitivity to light
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Confusion or trouble concentrating
• Rash (especially in bacterial meningitis)
• Cold hands and feet
• Rapid breathing
• Feeling like you have a really bad hangover or flu

Meningitis and meningococcal are not the same but are related both can be fatal and require immediate medical attention. Meningitis is the swelling of the membranes which surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, often caused by infections. Meningoccocal is specifically caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria and can lead to meningitis, septicemia or both.

There are two at risk age group for Meningitis in NZ – infants under the age of 5 and young adults aged between 13-25 years.  A booster every five years is recommended for these age groups especially if you are in close living situations which place you at higher risk

• MenB (Bexsero) a booster every 5 years
• ACWY (MenQuadfi) a booster ever 5 years

It’s always a good idea to check with your doctor to stay up to date on your vaccinations.

There are two vaccines in NZ and you need both to be protected:

• Men B: (Bexsero) you need two doses 8 weeks apart
• Meningococcal ACWY: (MenQuadfi) you only need one dose

Yes, like any vaccine, the meningitis vaccine can cause mild side effects that usually go away in a few days. Common side effects include:

• Soreness or redness at the injection site
• Fever – A mild fever that doesn’t last long
• Tiredness – Feeling more tired than usual
• Headache – A mild headache
• Nausea – Mild nausea for some people

These side effects are normal and show that your body is responding to the vaccine. Serious side effects are rare, but if you experience any unusual symptoms or a severe allergic reaction (like trouble breathing, rash, or swelling), seek medical help immediately.

The benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh the risk of these minor side effects, especially since meningitis can be very serious.

Getting vaccinated for meningitis as a teenager is important because:

• Teenagers are at higher risk
• Meningitis vaccines prevent against serious potentially life-threatening illnesses – which can lead to long-term disablities
• Highly effective – Meningitis vaccines are very effective at preventing the most common types of bacterial meningitis