Meningitis B is a type of meningococcal disease, which causes inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. It is caused by the bacteria Neisseria Meningitidis.
This disease is most commonly transmitted between teenagers and young adults of college and university age.  It spreads through contact with saliva or mucus from an infected person.
Luckily, protecting yourself from meningitis B is easy by getting a meningitis vaccine. Here are five convincing reasons to get vaccinated against meningitis B today:

1. Meningitis B can be life threatening
Meningitis B is a potentially life-threatening illness that can be easily prevented by getting vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all adolescents and young adults aged 16 to 23 years-old receive the meningitis B vaccine to protect themselves against this disease. The disease causes the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining and can cause fever, headache, neck stiffness, confusion, seizures, and even death, if left untreated. The good news is that there is now a vaccine to protect against meningitis B.

2. Meningitis B can cause hearing loss
Meningitis is a severe illness that can cause hearing loss in people who develop it. This disease can impact the ear, including damage to hair cells and hardening into bone. Thus, it will prevent future hearing loss treatments from working correctly for those infected with meningococcal bacteria. Moreover, it may cause permanent damage to your eardrum by killing off certain types of muscle tissue that allow air pressure waves to travel through it. In addition, it can destroy part of the cochlea inside the ears, preventing the transmission of sound waves from being heard by the brain and creating memory. Consequently, hearing may become impaired. Safeguard your hearing by getting a meningitis vaccine that is safe and effective.

3. Infection can lead to brain damage and nervous system problems
Acute bacterial meningitis is a potentially life-threatening infection that affects the brain. This bacterial infection can cause the membranes around the brain and spine to swell. Consequently, it puts pressure on those areas, which may lead to severe meningeal complications like shell shock or hydrocephalus. The sudden worsening of meningitis symptoms can lead to brain damage, seizures, and other nervous system problems.

4. Exposure can cause kidney damage
Meningitis can cause life-threatening kidney failure or long-term kidney damage. Anyone with meningitis should be monitored for signs of renal failure, including changes in urine output and blood tests. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for preventing severe health complications. Fortunately, you can maintain your kidneys with good help by getting vaccinated.

5. Vaccination can prevent a dangerous meningitis B outbreak
Vaccination is the only way to protect yourself, as well as others close to you, from meningitis B infection. The vaccine doesn’t have side effects or interactions with other medications. Plus, there are long-term benefits from vaccination because protection against the effects of meningitis can last up to 20 years after one single injection. Besides keeping yourself protected, vaccination will ensure you don’t trigger a dangerous meningitis B outbreak among friends and loved ones.

To learn more about the importance of meningitis B vaccination, tune into these informational videos and download the info pages at https://www.meningitisb.com/risk.html.