Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations | Meningococcal

Background

The United States uses 3 types of meningococcal vaccines. Each type helps protect against different serogroups of meningococcal disease.

The following summarizes CDC’s current age- and risk-based meningococcal vaccine recommendations by vaccine type. Access the official, full text of CDC’s current and historical meningococcal vaccine recommendations.

MenACWY vaccination

All adolescents

All 11- to 12-year-old adolescents should receive a MenACWY vaccine. Since protection wanes, CDC recommends a MenACWY booster dose at age 16 years. The booster dose provides protection during the ages when adolescents are at highest risk.

Guidance for when initial vaccine was delayed

Booster dose timing and need varies for adolescents whose vaccinations are delayed from the recommended schedule. If the initial vaccine was given at ages 13 through 15 years, administer the booster at ages 16 through 18 years. If the initial vaccine was given at ages 16 or older, CDC doesn’t recommend a booster dose.

Individuals at increased risk

In certain situations, individuals aged 2 months and older should receive

• A 2-4-dose primary series
• Regular booster doses if they remain at increased risk

Age under 7 years: Administer a booster dose 3 years after completion of the primary series and every 5 years thereafter.

Age 7 years or older: Administer a booster dose every 5 years.

Boosting during an outbreak

People who were previously vaccinated may need additional protection if they’re part of a population at increased risk during an outbreak. CDC recommends a booster dose for these individuals if 5 or more years have passed since the most recent MenACWY vaccine.

MenB vaccination

Both MenB vaccine products require more than 1 dose for maximum protection. Individuals must receive the same vaccine product for all doses.

Adolescents and young adults

CDC recommends a shared clinical decision-making process to decide if MenB vaccination is appropriate for individual adolescents or young adults.

Administer 2 doses, 6 months apart, to those who want MenB vaccination.

Guidance on timing

The preferred age (16 through 18 years) maximizes protection during the ages of highest risk.

Healthcare providers hopefully will see college-bound adolescents during a pre-college visit. If so, this visit provides an opportunity to initiate the MenB vaccine series for those who choose to receive it.

People desiring more rapid protection against serogroup B (e.g., students with less than 6 months before college entry) may receive a 3-dose series (0, 1–2, 6 months) to optimize rapid protection.

Individuals at increased risk

In certain situations, individuals ages 10 years and older should receive

• A 3-dose primary series
  • Second dose 1 to 2 months after first dose
  • Third dose 6 months after first dose
• Regular booster doses
  • 1 year after series completion
  • Every 2 to 3 years thereafter

Boosting during an outbreak

People who were previously vaccinated may need additional protection if they’re part of a population at increased risk during an outbreak. CDC recommends a booster dose for these individuals if a year or more has passed since the most recent MenB vaccine. There are also outbreak situations when public health authorities may recommend a booster dose after 6 months have passed since the most recent MenB vaccine.

MenABCWY vaccination

If someone’s receiving MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit, vaccine providers have 2 options:

• Administer the individual vaccines at different injection sites
• Administer MenABCWY vaccine instead

The minimum interval between MenABCWY doses is 6 months.

Implications for future vaccination

MenABCWY vaccine includes Trumenba^®. For subsequent doses after MenABCWY, administer:

• Trumenba^® for additional MenB dose(s) when MenACWY isn’t indicated
• Any MenACWY vaccine when MenB isn’t indicated

Guidance for use as a booster dose

People with prolonged increased risk for serogroup A, C, W, or Y and B meningococcal disease need regular boosters. However, the recommended interval between doses varies by age and vaccine type. MenABCWY vaccine can be used only when both MenACWY and MenB vaccines are indicated at the same visit. Otherwise, MenACWY and MenB vaccines should be given separately as appropriate.