Meningococcal Vaccination

Pronounced (muh-nin-jo-cok-ul)

At a Glance

Meningococcal vaccines are now available that help protect against all three serogroups of meningococcal disease that are most commonly seen in the United States (serogroups B, C and Y), but they will not prevent all cases. There are three kinds of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (Menactra®, MenHibrix® and Menveo®)
• Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Menomune®)
• Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)

View the table below to learn which meningococcal serogroups are covered by each vaccine.

Trade name	Type of Vaccine	Meningococcal Serogroups Covered
Bexsero®	Recombinant	B
Menactra®	Conjugate	A, C, W, Y
MenHibrix®	Conjugate	C, Y (and Haemophilus influenzae type b [Hib])
Menomune®	Polysaccharide	A, C, W, Y
Menveo®	Conjugate	A, C, W, Y
Trumenba®	Recombinant	B

What You Should Know

About the Disease

• Brief Description
  Risk factors, causes, transmission, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment
• Pictures of Meningococcal Disease and Bacteria
  Warning: Some of these photos might be unsuitable for children. Viewing discretion is advised.
• Help Protect Your Preteen and Teen against Meningococcal Disease
  CDC Feature
• Travelers' Health–Yellow Book
  Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc.

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Vaccine Information

The following vaccines help prevent meningococcal disease: meningococcal conjugate, meningococcal polysaccharide, and serogroup B meningococcal vaccines.

• Who Needs These Vaccines
• Side Effects
• Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
  Note: A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine information statement is currently in development.
• Video: Have You Heard about How to Prevent Meningococcal Disease?
  This video, featuring a meningitis expert who is also a concerned mom, helps you learn more about meningococcal disease and how to prevent it. Released 8/11/2009, Run time: 4:42
  • View this video on CDC-TV or on YouTube

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Vaccine Safety

As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or discomfort after meningococcal vaccines.

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) among Persons who Received Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine
• CDC's Vaccine Safety Website
  • Concerns | Report a Suspected Vaccine Reaction

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Who Should Not Be Vaccinated?

• Who Should Not Be Vaccinated with Meningococcal Vaccine?
• Pregnancy Guidelines
• Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants

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For Health Professionals

Clinical Information on Meningococcal Disease

• Clinical Information
  Clinical features, etiologic agent, incidence, complications, transmission, risk groups, surveillance, trends, challenges, etc.
• Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants

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Vaccine Recommendations

• ACIP Recommendations
  Prevention and control of meningococcal disease
• Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine Interim Guidance [6 pages]
  Control of serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreaks in organizational settings
• Who and When to Vaccinate
• Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations [1 page]
• Standing Orders
• Contraindications
• Consult package inserts for vaccine storage and handling guidance: (Bexsero® [11 pages], Menactra®, MenHibrix® [14 pages], Menomune®, Menveo® and Trumenba® [10 pages])
  Includes proper storage and handing details, shelf life, reconstitution instructions...
• ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution

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References and Resources

• Related MMWRs, Articles, and Chapters
• Pink Book's Chapter on Meningococcal Disease
  Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases
• Surveillance Manual's Chapter on Meningococcal Disease
  Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook
• Travelers' Health – Yellow Book
• Meningococcal Vaccines for Children: 2011 Public and Stakeholder Engagement Report April 2012
• Infection Control Guidelines
• Additional meningococcal disease info on other websites:
  • Ask the Experts
    Source: Immunization Action Coalition
  • National Meningitis Association

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Provider Education

• CDC Commentary: Clarifying Meningococcal Booster Dose Recommendations
  Amanda Cohn, MD, clarifies the meningococcal booster dose recommendations for adolescents. CDC Expert Commentary, January 2011
• CDC Commentary: Meningococcal Disease — Prevention, Diagnosis, and Management
  Henry M. Wu, MD, comments on meningococcal disease, including signs, symptoms, and treatment, and reviews the latest vaccine recommendations. CDC Expert Commentary, March 2010

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Materials for Patients

• Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
  Note: A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine information statement is currently in development.
• Meningococcal Disease Case Histories
  Stories of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases (Immunization Action Coalition)
• Meningococcal: Questions and Answers [3 pages]
  Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on IAC's Vaccine Information website (www.vaccineinformation.org) April 2015

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