Meningococcal vaccine, diphtheria conjugate Intramuscular and Sargramostim Intravenous

• Generic Name: meningococcal conjugate vaccine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Menactra, Menveo

Meningococcal diphtheria conjugate vaccine is an active immunizing agent used to prevent infection by certain groups of meningococcal bacteria. The vaccine works by causing your body to produce its own protection (antibodies) against the disease.

The following information applies only to the meningococcal vaccine used for meningococcal bacteria Groups A, C, Y, and W-135. These groups cause nearly all of the meningococcal meningitis cases in the U.S. The vaccine will not protect against infection caused by other meningococcal bacteria groups, such as Group B.

Meningococcal infection can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as meningococcal meningitis, which affects the brain, and meningococcemia, which affects the blood. Some persons with meningococcal meningitis and/or meningococcemia also may die. The rate of these diseases peak in adolescence and early adulthood and are more likely to occur in persons with certain diseases or conditions that make them more susceptible to a meningococcal infection or more likely to develop serious problems from a meningococcal infection.

Immunization against meningococcal disease is recommended for persons 9 months to 55 years of age who are at risk of getting the disease because:

• They have certain diseases or conditions that make them more susceptible to a meningococcal infection or more likely to develop serious problems from a meningococcal infection.
• They are living in, working in, or visiting an area where there is a strong possibility of contracting meningococcal disease. .

This vaccine is to be administered only by or under the supervision of your doctor.

• Generic Name: sargramostim
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Leukine

Sargramostim injection is used to help the bone marrow make new white blood cells. It is a synthetic (man-made) form of a substance that is naturally produced in your body called a colony stimulating factor.

When certain cancer medicines are used to fight cancer cells, they also affect the white blood cells that fight infections. Sargramostim is used to prevent or reduce the risk of infection while you are being treated with cancer medicines. It is also used to help the bone marrow recover faster after a bone marrow transplant or after a peripheral blood progenitor cell collection in cancer patients having stem cell transplant. Sargramostim is also used to improve survival in cancer patients who have been exposed to radiation.

Sargramostim is available only with your doctor's prescription.