Brand Name(s):

Menactra^®
Menomune^®
Meningovax^®
Menveo^®
MenHibrix^® (as a combination product containing Haemophilus influenzae type b, Meningococcal Vaccine)

Other Name(s):

MenACWY

What is meningococcal disease?

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a type of bacteria calledNeisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infections of the blood. Meningococcal disease often occurs without warning, even among people who are otherwise healthy.

Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact (e.g., coughing, kissing) or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household. There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called "serogroups." Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most meningococcal disease.

Anyone can get meningococcal disease but certain people are at increased risk, including:

Infants younger than one year old
Adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years old
People with certain medical conditions that affect the immune system
Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates ofN. meningitidis
People at risk because of a meningococcal outbreak in their community

Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, amputations, nervous system problems, or severe scars from skin grafts.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. A different meningococcal vaccine is available to help protect against serogroup B.

What is meningococcal vaccine?

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) is licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protection against serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

Who should get meningococcal vaccine and when?

Routine Vaccination:

Two doses of MenACWY are routinely recommended for adolescents 11 through 18 years of age: the first dose at 11 or 12 years of age, with a booster dose at age 16.

Some adolescents, including those with HIV infection, should receive additional doses. Ask your healthcare provider for more information.

In addition to routine vaccination for adolescents, MenACWY vaccine is also recommended for certain groups of people:

People at risk because of a serogroup A, C, W, or Y meningococcal disease outbreak
People with HIV
Anyone whose spleen is damaged or has been removed, including people with sickle cell disease
Anyone with a rare immune system condition called "persistent complement component deficiency"
Anyone taking a drug called eculizumab (Soliris)
Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates ofN. meningitidis
Anyone traveling to, or living in, a part of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts of Africa
College freshmen living in dormitories
U.S. military recruits

Some people need multiple doses for adequate protection. Ask your healthcare provider about the number and timing of doses, and the need for booster doses.

Who should not get meningococcal vaccine or should wait?

Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine:

If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies.
If you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reactionafter a previous dose of meningococcal ACWY vaccine, or if you have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you should not get this vaccine. Your provider can tell you about the vaccine's ingredients.
Not much is known about the risks of this vaccine for a pregnant woman or breastfeeding mother. However, pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid MenACWY vaccination. A pregnant or breastfeeding woman should be vaccinated if she is at increased risk of meningococcal disease.
If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you.

What are the risks from meningococcal vaccines?

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own within a few days, but serious reactions are also possible.

Mild problems following meningococcal vaccination:

As many as half the people who get meningococcal ACWY vaccine have mild problems following vaccination, such as redness or soreness where the shot was given. If these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days.
A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine experience muscle or joint pains.

Problems that could happen after any injected vaccine:

People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or lightheaded or have vision changes.
Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This rarely happens.
Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death. The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For more information, visit:http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/.

What if there is a severe reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or unusual behavior. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness-- usually within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Your doctor should file this report, or you can do it yourself through the VAERS web site athttp://www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling1-800-822-7967.

VAERS does not give medical advice.

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) is a federal program that was created to compensate people who may have been injured by certain vaccines. Persons who believe they may have been injured by a vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a claim by calling1-800-338-2382or visiting the VICP website athttp://www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There is a time limit to file a claim for compensation.

How can I learn more?

Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
Call your local or state health department.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Call1-800-232-4636(1-800-CDC-INFO) or visit CDC's website athttp://www.cdc.gov/vaccines

Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statement. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Immunization Program. 8/24/2018.

AHFS^® Consumer Medication Information. © Copyright, The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc., 7272 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland. All Rights Reserved. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized by ASHP.

Selected Revisions: November 15, 2018.