The CDC recommends that the first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine targeting serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 (Menveo or MenQuadfi) be administered at age 11-12 with a second booster dose given at the age of 16. ACIP also recommends that high risk children between 2 months and 10 years and high-risk adults be vaccinated with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Conditions considered to increase a person’s risk for meningococcal disease include HIV- infection, complement component deficiencies, functional or anatomical asplenia, travel to meningococcal disease endemic areas, the use of eculizumab (Soliris®) medication and exposure to Neisseria meningitides due to employment as a microbiologist. At times, populations may also be identified as high risk for the disease related to an outbreak of meningococcal serogroup A, C, Y or W-135 disease and may be recommended to receive a dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine.
The CDC also states that adolescents may be vaccinated with meningococcal group B vaccine (BEXSERO or TRUMENBA) and that persons considering the vaccine are recommended to receive it between 16 and 18 years of age. Routine vaccination with meningococcal group B vaccine is recommended only for high-risk individuals aged 10 and older with conditions that include functional or anatomical asplenia, complement component deficiencies, or for individuals taking eculizumab (Soliris®) medication. In the event of a meningococcal group B outbreak, populations may also be identified as high risk and recommended meningococcal group B vaccines. While the CDC recommends meningococcal serogroup B vaccines for high-risk adults, meningococcal group B vaccines have not received FDA approved for use in persons over the age of 25. Additionally, TRUMENBA and BEXSERO vaccines are not interchangeable and the same vaccine brand must be used for all administered doses.
Healthy individuals aged 16 to 23 years and high-risk individuals aged 10 and older who are recommended to receive meningococcal A, C, Y and W-135 vaccine (MenACWY) and meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) at the same visit may receive PENBRAYA (MenABCWY) in lieu of separate doses of MenACWY and MenB vaccines.
NVIC “Quick Facts” is not a substitute for becoming fully informed about Meningococcal disease, meningitis and the Meningococcal vaccine. NVIC recommends consumers read the more complete information following the "Quick Facts", as well as the vaccine manufacturer product information inserts, and speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision for yourself or your child.
