A clean, modern resource to visualize and understand meningococcal disease data and policies across the United States.
About This Project
The Meningococcal Data Dashboard (MD2) is a centralized resource that visualizes open-access public health data on meningococcal disease in the United States. MD2 transforms complex public health data into a powerful tool for action. Designed for policymakers and meningitis advocates, MD2 provides clear, actionable insights to strengthen disease prevention efforts across the United States. By visualizing and correlating state-level data on disease cases, vaccination policies, and school entry requirements, the dashboard illuminates critical gaps and opportunities for driving life-saving policy change.
MD2 empowers users to make informed, data-driven decisions by providing:
- Comprehensive Data Visualization: Instantly access and compare trends in meningococcal cases across all U.S. states and territories.
- Policy Tracking: Easily review and analyze state-specific vaccination recommendations
and school entry requirements side-by-side. - Actionable Insights: Use curated open-access data to identify prevention gaps and advocate for stronger, evidence-based health policies.
School Vaccination Policy Highlights
Leading States
22 states, the District of Columbia, and 1 territory have implemented comprehensive MenACWY vaccination requirements for both K–12 and college students. These states provide the strongest policy-based protection.
The “College Gap”
A significant number of states (13) have a K–12 requirement but fail to extend that protection to the high-risk college population, creating a critical policy gap.
Lagging States
4 states have college requirements but none for K–12 school-aged children, while 11 states completely lack statewide meningococcal vaccination requirements for school or college entry. These states rely solely on recommendations, which are less effective at achieving high coverage rates.
Regional Variation
There is a notable regional variation in the adoption of MenACWY vaccination requirements. The Midwest has the highest proportion of states with requirements, while the West has the lowest.
The Exemption Problem
Many states permit nonmedical (religious or philosophical) exemptions. These exemptions can weaken the impact of mandates and create pockets of under-vaccinated individuals, increasing community risk.
Spotlight on Meningitis B (MenB)
Requirements for the MenB vaccine are not implemented at the state level but are instead adopted by individual universities. This piecemeal approach leaves most college students unprotected from this specific strain of the disease. States should consider policies that encourage or require MenB vaccination for university and college students.
To improve public health protection, it is recommended that states that currently do not have vaccination requirements consider adopting statewide MenACWY requirements for students entering colleges and universities. Additionally, all states should review their exemption policies to limit nonmedical exemptions that can compromise the effectiveness of vaccination requirements.
MD2 was developed with support from GSK.
Take the First Step – Protect Your Family Today
Your family's health is in your hands. Start by learning the symptoms of meningitis and exploring vaccination options to safeguard your loved ones from this life-threatening illness. Early action can make all the difference – take the first step today.