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What is Meningococcal Vaccine?

Updated February 04, 2024


meningococcal vaccine
 
Image source: CDC PHIL

There are five FDA approved meningococcal vaccines available for use in the United States targeting a total of five serotypes of the 13 for meningococcal disease.

Two vaccines, Menveo (Novartis/GlaxoSmithKline) and MenQuadfi (Sanofi Pasteur) are conjugate vaccines that target serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 meningococcal bacteria, two vaccines, BEXSERO (Novartis/GlaxoSmithKline) and TRUMENBA (Wyeth/Pfizer) are recombinant vaccines that target serogroup B meningococcal bacteria, and one vaccine PENBRAYA (Pfizer Ireland) is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine targeting serogroups A, B, C, Y, and W-135.  Two additional meningococcal vaccines, Menactra (Sanofi Pasteur) and Menomune (Sanofi Pasteur) remain licensed in the US,   however, production of both vaccines has been discontinued by the manufacturer.   

Below is brief information on meningococcal vaccines in use in the U.S. Click the hyperlinked vaccine name to access vaccine product inserts on the FDA’s website. These inserts contain additional information on ingredients, safety, and clinical trials for each vaccine. NVIC encourages readers to review product inserts as part of their information gathering and decision-making process.

Menveo is a meningococcal (groups A, C, Y, and W-135) oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (GlaxoSmithKline). Menveo is FDA approved for use in persons two months through 55 years of age. Children vaccinated at two months of age are recommended to receive four doses of the vaccine (2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age). In young children between the ages of nine and 23 months, the vaccine is recommended as a two-dose series, with the second dose administered in the second year of life and at least 3 months following the first dose. One dose of the vaccine is recommended for individuals between the ages of two and 55 years of age.  Menveo vaccine ingredients include strains of serogroup A, C, Y and W-135 meningococcal bacteria, Franz Complete medium, formaldehyde, CY medium, yeast extracts, purified polysaccharides and CRM 197 protein.    

MenQuadfi is a meningococcal (groups A, C, Y, and W-135) polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. MenQuadfi is FDA approved for use in individuals two years of age and older to be administered as a single dose. For persons 15 years of age and older, it can be given as booster dose if at least four years have passed since the first dose was given, or as a single dose for persons who are considered at risk for meningococcal disease. MenQuadfi vaccine ingredients include strains of A, C, Y and W-135 meningococcal bacteria, muller Hinton agar, Watson Scherp media, carbonyldiimidazole, adipic acid dihydrazide, periodate, ammonium sulfate, tetanus toxoid protein carrier, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and formaldehyde. 

BEXSERO is a meningococcal group B recombinant vaccine manufactured by Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (GlaxoSmithKline). BEXSERO is FDA approved for use in individuals aged 10 through 25 years. It is given in a series of two shots at least one month apart. BEXSERO has shown an immune response against three serogroup B strains as measured by serum bactericidal activity. The effectiveness of the vaccine against diverse serogroup B meningococcal disease has not been confirmed.  BEXSERO vaccine ingredients include strains of the meningococcal B bacteria, factor H binding protein, outer membrane vesicles, aluminum hydroxide, sodium chloride, histidine, sucrose, E. coli, deoxycholate and kanamycin.    

TRUMENBA is a meningococcal group B recombinant vaccine manufactured by Wyeth (Pfizer) Pharmaceuticals. TRUMENBA is FDA approved for use in individuals aged 10 through 25 years and can be administered in both a two or three dose schedule. As a two-dose schedule, the two doses are given six months apart. However, if more than six months has elapsed between doses, a third dose should not be administered earlier than four months after the second dose. As a three-dose schedule, the second dose is given 1-2 months after the first dose and the third dose is given six months following the first dose. Both the effectiveness of a 2-dose schedule as well as the vaccine’s ability to offer any protection against the diverse serogroup B meningococcal strains have not been confirmed.  TRUMENBA vaccine ingredients include strains of meningococcal B bacteria, E. coli, defined fermentation growth media, polysorbate 80, and aluminum phosphate.    

PENBRAYA is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine manufactured by Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals. PENBRAYA is FDA approved for use in individuals aged 10 through 25 years, to be given intramuscularly (IM) as a 2-dose series administered at least six months apart. PENBRAYA vaccine ingredients include strains of A, B, C, Y and W-135 meningococcal bacteria, E. Coli, polysorbate 80, aluminum phosphate, trometamol, L-histidine, sodium chloride, and sucrose.

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.


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