A Parent’s Guide to Meningitis B

Did you know that meningitis rates are highest in babies younger than 1 and teens and young adults ages 16 to 23? Although it’s rare, meningitis B can strike otherwise healthy people without warning, progress quickly and be fatal — sometimes within 24 hours.

That’s why it’s critical to learn the risks, signs, symptoms and steps you can take to protect your loved ones from getting this infectious disease. We provide expert guidance on the important vaccines that all children and young adults should receive and what questions to ask your child’s healthcare provider.

In a moving Real Women, Real Stories, we also spoke to Patsy Schanbaum about her daughter Jamie’s battle against meningitis. After everything Patsy and her family went through, Patsy’s message to other parents is the same as our message to our readers: Meningitis B is a serious disease — and vaccines provide the best defense.

This resource was created with support from GSK.

Fast Facts: What Parents Need to Know About Meningitis B

Información resumida: Lo que los padres deben saber sobre la meningitis B

Questions to Ask Your Child’s Healthcare Provider About Meningitis B

Preguntas para el médico de su hijo sobre la meningitis B

My Daughter Jamie Lost Her Legs and Fingers in a Ferocious Battle Against Meningitis

Why Parents Need to Ask About the Meningitis B Vaccination