Laboratory workers who frequently handle Neisseria meningitidis are recommended to receive MenACWY and MenB vaccines
Laboratory workers who are at occupational risk of exposure to Neisseria meningitidis are recommended to receive vaccines against all vaccine-preventable meningococcal serogroups. Specifically:
- 1 dose of MenACWY vaccine, with a booster dose every 5 years for those with ongoing risk of exposure
- 2 doses of MenB vaccine, with a single booster dose 5 years after completing the primary schedule for those at ongoing risk of exposure
There is no preference for either brand of MenACWY vaccine — MenQuadfi, Menveo or Nimenrix — for laboratory workers.
There is no preference for either brand of MenB vaccine — Bexsero or Trumenba — for laboratory workers.
Bexsero and Trumenba are not interchangeable for primary or booster doses. The same vaccine should be used for all primary vaccine doses as well as any booster dose.
If a person ≥10 years of age receives a booster dose that is a different brand to the primary course, they do not need an extra or repeat dose of the booster vaccine. While it is not preferable as there is no specific data on interchangeability of Bexsero and Trumenba, it will still provide protection.
People who have previously received a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine
People who have previously received a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine
Laboratory workers with ongoing occupational exposure risks who have previously received a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (4vMenPV— previously available in Australia but now discontinued) are recommended to receive 1 dose of MenACWY conjugate vaccine. They should receive this dose 2 years after the most recent dose of 4vMenPV, with a recommended minimum interval of 6 months.1-3 They are also recommended to receive booster doses of MenACWY vaccine.