Any person from 6 weeks of age who wants to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease is recommended to receive MenACWY vaccine and MenB vaccine
Any person who wants to reduce their risk of 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 for groups at increased risk of meningococcal disease. The table shows the type of vaccines that are recommended for specific age groups and special risk groups. See below for brand and dosing recommendations.
Preferred vaccines
Preferred vaccines
Infants aged <12 months can receive 2 of the 3 brands of MenACWY vaccine (Menveo or Nimenrix).
There is no preference for brand of MenACWY vaccine – MenQuadfi, Menveo, or Nimenrix - for people aged ≥12 months.
Meningococcal ACWY vaccine is funded through the NIP for:
- all children aged 12 months,
- all adolescents 14-16 years
- people aged ≥2 months with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease.
The only brand of MenB vaccine registered and available in Australia is Bexsero, following with the discontinuation of Trumenba in 2024.
Meningococcal B vaccine is funded through the NIP for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged <2 years
- people aged ≥2 months with certain medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease.
For details see the National Immunisation Program Schedule.
Recommended dose schedules
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 vaccine brand.
For the recommended dose schedules for healthy infants and children aged <2 years, see:
- Table. Recommendations for immunisation of infants and children aged <2 years using meningococcal ACWY vaccines, by age and vaccine brand
- Table. Recommendations for immunisation of infants and children aged <2 years using meningococcal B vaccine
For the recommended dose schedules for people with a specified medical condition associated with an increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease, see:
Booster doses
Booster doses
Healthy people, at standard background risk of invasive meningococcal disease, who have completed a primary course of MenACWY or MenB vaccine do not need booster doses.
People at ongoing increased risk of meningococcal disease are recommended to receive booster doses:
- MenACWY — regular booster doses for certain special risk groups. See People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease, Travellers and Laboratory workers
- MenB — a single booster dose for certain special risk groups. See People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease and Laboratory workers
'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 MenACWYa | MenB and MenACWYa | MenB and MenACWYa | MenACWYa |
| 2–14 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. | ||||
| Vaccine type | Vaccine brand | Dose requirements for healthy people (without any medical conditions associated with increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease) |
|---|---|---|
| MenACWY | MenQuadfi, Menveo or Nimenrix | 1 dose |
| MenB | Bexsero | 2 doses (8 weeks between doses) |