Any person from 6 weeks of age who wants to protect themselves against meningococcal disease is recommended to receive MenACWY vaccine and MenB vaccine

Any person who wants to protect themselves against invasive meningococcal disease can receive MenACWY and MenB vaccines from as early as 6 weeks of age.

A summary of the recommendations for use of meningococcal vaccines is shown in Table. Recommendations for meningococcal vaccines by age group. The table shows the type of vaccines that are strongly recommended for specific age groups and special risk groups. See below for brand and dosing recommendations.

Preferred vaccines

Infants aged <9 months can receive 2 of the 3 MenACWY brands (Menveo or Nimenrix).
Infants and children aged 9 months to 2 years can receive any of the 3 MenACWY vaccine brands, following the age-appropriate dosing schedule.

For all people aged ≥2 years, it is preferable to receive either Menveo or Nimenrix, rather than Menactra.

There is no preference for either Bexsero or Trumenba for people aged ≥10 years who wish to receive a MenB vaccine. For people aged <10 years, Bexsero is the only registered MenB vaccine available in Australia.

Recommended dose schedules

For recommended dose schedules for healthy people aged ≥2 years who wish to receive meningococcal vaccine, see Table. Recommendations for meningococcal vaccines for healthy people aged ≥2 years, by age and vaccine brand.

For the recommended dose schedules for healthy infants and children aged <2 years, see:

For the recommended dose schedules for people with a specified medical condition associated with an increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease, see:

Booster doses

Healthy people who have completed a primary course of MenACWY vaccine do not need booster doses. However, booster doses of MenACWY vaccines are needed for certain special risk groups and travellers. See People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease and Travellers.

People who have completed a primary course of MenB vaccine do not need booster doses.

Table. Recommendations for meningococcal vaccines by age group

‘Special risk groups’ include people with a specified medical condition associated with an increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease (see List. Specified medical conditions associated with increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease), laboratory workers at occupational risk of exposure to Neisseria meningitidis, and people aged 15–24 years who live in close quarters (such as new military recruits and students living in residential accommodation) or who are current smokers.

‘Travellers’ include people aged ≥2 months who are planning overseas travel to regions with an increased risk of exposure to meningococcal serogroups A, C, W or Y disease.

Age group	Healthy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people	Healthy non-Indigenous people	Special risk groups (including adolescent and young adult smokers and those living in close quarters; and laboratory workers)	Travellers to regions with an increased risk of exposure to MenACWY disease
6 weeks–23 months	MenB and MenACWY^a	MenB and MenACWY^a	MenB and MenACWY^a	MenACWY^a
2–4 years	MenB and MenACWY	None	MenB and MenACWY	MenACWY
5–14 years	MenB and MenACWY	None	MenB and MenACWY	MenACWY
15–19 years	MenB and MenACWY	MenB and MenACWY	MenB and MenACWY	MenACWY
≥20 years	None	None	MenB and MenACWY	MenACWY

a See brand specific recommendations

View table details

Table. Recommendations for meningococcal vaccines for healthy people aged ≥2 years, by age and vaccine brand

Age at start of vaccine course	Vaccine type	Vaccine brand	Dose requirements for healthy people (without any medical conditions associated with increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease)
2–9 years	MenACWY	Preferably Menveo or Nimenrix, otherwise Menactra	1 dose
2–9 years	MenB	Bexsero	2 doses (8 weeks between doses)
≥10 years	MenACWY^a	Preferably Menveo or Nimenrix, otherwise Menactra	1 dose
	MenB	Bexsero	2 doses (8 weeks between doses)
	MenB	Trumenba	2 doses (6 months between doses)

MenACWY^a- aThere is no registered upper age limit for use of Menveo and Nimenrix. Although Menactra is registered for use up to 55 years of age only, it can be given to people >55 years of age.

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Page history

Last updated:

8 June 2018

Last reviewed: