Meningitis vaccination is free and not for sale, National Primary
Healthcare Development Agency has warned. Vaccination is available at public
health institutions (and some private) in all states.
The vaccines’ preventable diseases are covered free-of-charge under the
National Immunisation schedule, which includes: Bacillus Calmette Guerin,
Poliomyelitis and Hepatitis B. Others are Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus
toxoid -(Pentavelent vaccines), Haemophilus influenza type B, Pneumococcal
vaccines, Inactivated Polio virus vaccines, Measles, Yellow Fever and of
course, Meningitis vaccines. The Nigerian government had made available 500,000
doses of meningitis vaccines and additional 823,000 doses to curtail the
outbreak already confirmed in Zamfara, Katsina, Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, and two
states in south south.
Get vaccinated before traveling to any meningitis
prone area or state.
How do you get meningitis?
Most meningitis is caused by bacteria and viruses that often live in
our bodies. Usually these germs stay in the intestines or in the nose and
throat, where they may or may not make us sick. But if they spread to the
tissues (meninges ) that surround the brain and spinal cord, they cause
inflammation.
How is meningitis spread from
person to person?
Most of the bacteria that cause this form of infection are spread
through close personal contact, such as coughing, sneezing, and kissing. Throat
secretions from an infected person (for example, phlegm or saliva) contain
bacteria. All meningitis is contagious. Prolonged close contact can spread the
bacteria that cause meningitis. The bacteria can be spread through kissing,
coughs and sneezes, shared cutlery, or sharing items like toothbrushes or
cigarettes.
Common signs & symptoms of
meningitis
Fever, cold hands and feet, Vomiting, Drowsy, difficult to wake, Confusion
and irritability, Severe muscle pain, Pale, blotchy skin, Spots/rash, severe
headache, Stiff neck.