People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease are strongly recommended to receive MenACWY and MenB vaccines
People with medical conditions specified in List. Specified medical conditions associated with increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease are strongly recommended to receive MenACWY and MenB vaccines.
This includes:
- a full primary course of MenACWY vaccine, with ongoing booster doses
- a full primary course of MenB vaccine
People with these specific medical conditions have a higher risk of invasive meningococcal disease. They are recommended to receive extra doses compared with people who do not have these conditions.
The number of doses needed depends on the vaccine brand used and the person’s age when they start the vaccine course.
For people aged ≥2 years receiving MenACWY vaccine, it is preferable to receive either Menveo or Nimenrix, rather than Menactra. If Menveo and Nimenrix are unavailable, Menactra can be given.
There is no preference for either Bexsero or Trumenba for people aged ≥10 years. For people aged <10 years, Bexsero is the only registered MenB vaccine available in Australia.
Bexsero and Trumenba are not interchangeable. The same vaccine should be used for both vaccine doses.
Regular booster doses are required for MenACWY vaccines, but not for MenB vaccines.
For more details see:
- defects in, or deficiency of, complement components, including factor H, factor D or properdin deficiency
- current or future treatment with eculizumab (a monoclonal antibody directed against complement component C5)
- functional or anatomical asplenia, including sickle cell disease or other haemoglobinopathies, and congenital or acquired asplenia
- HIV, regardless of disease stage or CD4+ cell count
- haematopoietic stem cell transplant
Age at start of vaccine course | MenACWY vaccine brand | Dose requirements for people with a specified medical condition associated with increased risk of meningococcal disease |
6 weeks to 5 months | Menveo Nimenrix | 4 doses (8 weeks between doses; 4th dose at 12 months of age or 8 weeks after 3rd dose, whichever is later) |
6–8 months | Menveo Nimenrix | 3 doses (8 weeks between 1st and 2nd doses; 3rd dose at 12 months of age or 8 weeks after 2nd dose, whichever is later) |
9–11 months | Menveo Nimenrix Menactra | 3 doses (8 weeks between 1st and 2nd doses; 3rd dose at 12 months of age or 8 weeks after 2nd dose, whichever is later) |
≥12 months | Menveo Nimenrix Menactra | 2 doses (8 weeks between doses) |
Booster doses for all ages | Menveo Nimenrix Menactra | For people with ongoing increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease who completed the primary series at:
|
Age at start of vaccine course | MenB vaccine brand | Dose requirements for people with a specified medical condition associated with increased risk of meningococcal disease |
6 weeks to 5 months | Bexsero | 4 doses (8 weeks between doses; 4th dose at 12 months of age or 8 weeks after 3rd dose, whichever is later) |
6–11 months | Bexsero | 3 doses (8 weeks between 1st and 2nd doses; 3rd dose at 12 months of age or 8 weeks after 2nd dose, whichever is later) |
12 months to 9 years | Bexsero | 2 doses (8 weeks between doses) |
≥10 years | Bexsero | 2 doses (8 weeks between doses) |
Trumenba | 3 doses (at intervals of 0, 1 and 6 months) |
People who have previously received a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine
People with medical conditions that increase their risk of invasive meningococcal disease who have previously received a quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (4vMenPV) are recommended to receive 1 dose of MenACWY conjugate vaccine.
They should receive this dose about 2 years after the most recent dose of 4vMenPV, with a recommended minimum interval of 6 months.1-3
Page history
Definitions
- 4vMenPV
- quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine
This document was printed on: 24/01/2019. Printed content may be out of date. For up to date information, always refer to the digital version: https://immunisationhandbook.health.gov.au/recommendations/people-with-medical-conditions-that-increase-their-risk-of-invasive-meningococcal.