FDA urges meningitis vaccination amid deaths

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators on Wednesday urged that all patients with cochlear implants be vaccinated against meningitis amid reports of two deaths in children not properly vaccinated.

The implant is an electronic device inserted in the inner ear that can help provide a sense of sound to the deaf or hard-of-hearing.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued the advisory to health professionals to remind them of the "increased, life-threatening risk of bacterial meningitis" in patients with cochlear implants and the importance of full vaccination.

All patients are at risk, but children are at a heightened risk, the FDA said.

The two deaths were in children, ages 9 and 11, who did not complete the full immunization schedule, it said.

Depending on age, children may require several doses of vaccine for full protection.

About 60,000 cochlear implants have been placed over the past two decades, about half of which are in children, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, citing a New England Journal of Medicine study.

The FDA cited a recent poll of parents finding nearly half did not know whether their child was fully vaccinated.

Meningitis is an inflammation of connective tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Signs of meningitis include high fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, trouble looking into bright lights, sleepiness and confusion, the FDA said.