Menactra Uses

How Does Menactra Work?

This vaccine contains polysaccharide (sugar) molecules from the outside coating of the N. meningitidis bacteria. Unlike the earlier version of the meningococcal vaccine (Menomune^®), the polysaccharides in Menactra are attached to diphtheria toxoid proteins (this type of vaccine is known as a conjugate vaccine).

This simple change makes the vaccine more effective for younger children, since children respond better to conjugate vaccines, and it provides longer-lasting immunity.

Simply stated, this vaccine "tricks" the body into thinking it has been exposed to the actual bacteria, but without the risks of a real infection. If future exposure to the bacteria occurs, the immune system "remembers" the bacteria and is better able to fight it off.

Off-Label Uses of Menactra

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend this product for something other than the uses discussed in this article (this would be known as an "off-label" use). Using Menactra outside the approved age ranges (i.e., for babies under the age of 9 months or adults over the age of 55) would be considered an off-label Menactra use.

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