MCV4 Health Notice

The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education revised the Maine School Immunization Requirements rules in 2018 to now include meningococcal meningitis disease. These changes further aligned Maine’s immunization rules with current national recommendations to better protect the health of all Maine people.

Meningococcal disease, more commonly known as meningitis, is a rare but dangerous disease that strikes healthy young people without warning. It can affect all ages, but teens and young adults are at highest risk of getting the disease.

The current rule for all students attending a public or private school in the State of Maine states:

• Two doses of meningococcal vaccine MCV4 are required for students entering 12th grade, with a minimum interval of 8 weeks between dose one and dose two.
• If the first dose of meningococcal vaccine was administered on or after the 16th birthday, a second dose is not required.

 

Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions for more information on this newer school immunization requirement.

For more information, please contact the Maine Immunization Program at (207) 287-3746 or (800) 867-4775 (email: ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov).

Our goal is to have MCV4 immunizations completed for each 12th grade student by October 25th, 2019. We can help you determine whether or not your child has already had a dose of MCV4 through their school health records and the Maine Immunization Database.

Please contact our school nurse, Adrienne Baker, BSN, if you need this information at (207) 487-3355 ext. 136 (email: abaker@mci-school.com).