Cochlear Implants and Vaccination Recommendations

Information for the General Public

At a Glance

Certain vaccines can help prevent meningitis in people with cochlear implants. Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the lining of the brain and spinal cord. For best protection, people with cochlear implants should keep up-to-date with all recommended vaccinations.

 

General Information

Many types of bacteria can cause meningitis.

The leading causes of bacterial meningitis in the United States include:

• Streptococcus pneumoniae (called pneumococcal meningitis)
• Haemophilus influenzae
• Neisseria meningitidis (called meningococcal meningitis)

People with cochlear implants are at increased risk for some types of bacterial meningitis.

People with cochlear implants are at increased risk for bacterial meningitis, especially pneumococcal meningitis. CDC and the Food and Drug Administration learned this from a 2002 study of children with cochlear implants. Visit “The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program” web page to learn more about the study findings.

Vaccines can help prevent some types of bacterial meningitis.

Vaccines are available in the United States to help protect against

• H. influenzae type b (Hib)
• N. meningitidis
• S. pneumoniae

All Hib vaccines are conjugate vaccines.

There are two types of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccines
• Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines available in the United States:

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13)
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23)

General Vaccination Recommendations

CDC does not have any special vaccination recommendations for people with hearing loss.

People with hearing loss should receive the vaccines recommended for people without hearing loss, based on age and other health conditions. CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for people with hearing loss who have an ear condition that puts them at increased risk for meningitis. People with hearing loss should discuss questions about possible ear abnormalities with an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor.

 

Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations

CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all children, including those with cochlear implants.

Children younger than two years old with cochlear implants should receive PCV13 according to the Childhood Immunization Schedule. If a child with cochlear implants did not get the recommended doses when they were less than 2 years old, they may need additional doses of PCV13. Children 2 years or older with cochlear implants should also receive PPSV23. Talk to your child’s doctor about when your child should get these vaccines. Learn more about what everyone should know about pneumococcal vaccination.

Children should get all recommended doses of pneumococcal vaccines at least two weeks before cochlear implant surgery. This will provide maximum protection both during and after surgery. Children already up to date on these vaccines do not need extra doses before surgery.

CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for adults with cochlear implants.

Adults 19 through 64 years old with cochlear implants should receive one dose of PCV13 followed by one dose of PPSV23 if they have not previously received these vaccines. Talk to your doctor about when you should get these vaccines.

All adults age 65 years or older, including those with cochlear implants, should receive a dose of PPSV23 and, if not previously given, a dose of PCV13 according to the Adult Immunization Schedule.

People should get all recommended doses of pneumococcal vaccines at least two weeks before cochlear implant surgery. This will provide maximum protection both during and after surgery. People already up to date on these vaccines do not need extra doses before surgery.

CDC recommends vaccination for people who have had pneumococcal meningitis in the past.

A past case of pneumococcal meningitis does not provide enough protection against getting this form of meningitis again. For this reason, people who have had pneumococcal meningitis should receive pneumococcal vaccination according to CDC’s recommended schedules.

 

Hib Vaccination Recommendations

CDC recommends Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccination for all children under 5 years old, including those with cochlear implants.

All children younger than 5 years old should receive the Hib vaccine according to the Childhood Immunization Schedule.

Children younger than 5 years old who are scheduled to receive cochlear implants should be up-to-date on Hib vaccination at least two weeks before surgery. Children already up to date on these vaccines do not need extra doses before surgery.

CDC recommends vaccination for some children who have had meningitis caused by Hib in the past.

Children who had Hib meningitis when they were younger than 2 years old may need more doses of Hib vaccine. It depends on their current age. Children who had Hib meningitis when they were 2 years or older do not need more doses of Hib vaccine.

CDC does not recommend Hib vaccination specifically for older children and adults with cochlear implants.

Data do not suggest older children or adults with cochlear implants need Hib vaccination. That is why CDC does not recommend Hib vaccination for older children and adults with cochlear implants. Learn more about what everyone should know about Hib vaccination. 

 

Meningococcal Vaccination Recommendations

CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination for all preteens and teens, including those with cochlear implants.

All preteens and teens should receive the meningococcal conjugate vaccine according to the Preteen/Teen Immunization Schedule. Teens may also be vaccinated with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.

CDC does not recommend meningococcal vaccination specifically for younger children and adults with cochlear implants.

Data do not suggest that people with cochlear implants are at increased risk for meningococcal meningitis. That is why CDC does not recommend meningococcal vaccination specifically for people with cochlear implants. Learn more about what everyone should know about meningococcal vaccination.

People do not need meningococcal vaccination before or after cochlear implant surgery.

 

Vaccine Safety and Effectiveness

Vaccines that help prevent bacterial meningitis are safe, but side effects can occur.

The vaccines used to protect against bacterial meningitis are safe. When side effects occur, they are usually mild. Local reactions, such as a sore arm at the site of the injection, are fairly common with some of the vaccines. Some people may also get a fever. Get more information about side effects on the vaccine side effects web page.

Vaccines that help prevent bacterial meningitis work well, but cannot prevent all cases in people with cochlear implants.

One reason is because the vaccines don’t protect against all bacteria that cause meningitis. In addition, vaccines don’t always protect against all types of any given bacteria. For example, pneumococcal vaccines protect against many but not all strains of S. pneumoniae. Also, people with weakened immune systems may not respond well to vaccines, which may leave them at increased risk for getting meningitis.