Meningococcal disease, also called meningitis, is a less known but most dangerous disease that poses a serious threat to children's lives. It may kill a previously healthy child within 24-48 hours of the first symptoms, which usually appear to be non-specific flu-like symptoms. Recent CDC estimates suggest that infants under one year old are at a disproportionately higher risk (3-7 times higher) for contracting meningococcal meningitis due to their less sophisticated immune systems.
Along with injuries and neonatal complications, meningococcal disease is among the leading causes of preventable infant death in the U.S. Yes, preventable! Vaccines are available to prevent this aggressive and devastating disease, but they are not currently universally recommended for infants.
In response to this problem, Meningitis Angels, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about meningitis and other vaccine-preventable diseases, has initiated the "Protect Infants Now" (PIN) campaign, which aims to encourage the CDC to include meningitis vaccines in the recommended vaccination schedule for infants. You could really help support their efforts by signing the online PIN petition. It takes just a few seconds and only your name and location are required as a valid signature.
Join in the action now! Together we can make a difference and protect our children from this horrible disease!
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central and Meningitis Angels. This campaign was made possible in part through support provided by Novartis Vaccines. A small donation to a charity of my choice was made in my name from Mom Central as a thank-you for participating. All opinions in this posting are 100% my own.
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