Meningococcal Vaccine

Aka: Meningococcal Vaccine, Quadrivalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine, MCV4, MenACWY, MenACWY Conjugate Vaccine, Menactra, MenACWY-D, Menveo, MenACWY-CRM, MenACWY-TT, MenQuadfi, MenABCWY Conjugate Vaccine, Pentavalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine

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II. Indications

  1. Routine Scheduled Vaccine for all teens in U.S. (Menactra)
    1. All 12 year olds
      1. First dose
    2. All 16 year olds
      1. Booster, second dose for those who received a dose prior to age 16 years
      2. Catch-up any 16 year olds if not immunized (single dose)
  2. High risk Patients (see risk factors below)
    1. See CDC guidelines and risk factors below (vary by population and Vaccine)

III. Indications: Risk Factors and age 55 years and younger

  1. Underlying medical condition
    1. Anatomic Asplenia or Functional Asplenia (e.g. Sickle Cell Anemia)
    2. Terminal complement deficiency
    3. Properdin deficiency
    4. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
    5. Complement Inhibitor (eculizumab, ravulizumab)
  2. Close living areas
    1. College students in dormitory, fraternity, sorority
    2. Military recruits in barracks
  3. Travel to endemic areas
    1. Sub-Saharan Africa
    2. Himalayas
    3. Saudi Arabia (especially Mecca)

IV. Contraindications

  1. Age over 55 years
    1. Use Menomune (Quadrivalent Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine) instead

V. Mechanism

  1. Tetravalent Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (MCV4)
  2. MCV4 preferred in most cases over MPSV4 (higher immunogenicity)
  3. MenACWY covers strains A, C, W-135, Y (same as Menomune)
    1. Serotypes C and Y each account for a third of U.S. meningococcal cases
    2. Serotype B accounts for another third (but not included in the MenACWY Vaccine, see below)
    3. Serotypes A and W are strains seen worldwide
  4. MenACWY Vaccines do not cover serotype B (same as Menomune)
    1. Serotype B accounts for 50% of infant cases
    2. Serotype B accounts for <20% of teen cases
    3. Serotype B accounts for many of the college cases
    4. Reasons for not including serotype B in Vaccine
      1. B has poor immunogenicity in Vaccine
      2. Risk of cross-reactivity with neural tissue
  5. Conjugate Vaccine with DiphtheriaProtein
    1. Boosts T-Cell response
    2. Lengthens duration of Immunity significantly
  6. Cost: $100 (similar to Menomune)
  7. Storage: 35 to 46 F (2 to 8 C, same as Menomune)

VI. Medications

  1. Primary MenACWY Conjugate Vaccines (quadravalent)
    1. Menactra Conjugate (MenACWY-D)
      1. FDA approved 2005 for age 9 months to 55 years
    2. Menveo Conjugate (MenACWY-CRM)
      1. FDA approved 2010 for age 2 months to 55 years
    3. MenQuadfi Conjugate (MenACWY-TT)
      1. FDA approved 2020 for age 2 years and older
  2. MenABCWY Conjugate Vaccines (pentavalent with added MenB coverage as of 2024)
    1. See Serotype B Meningococcal Vaccine for indications
    2. Precautions
      1. MenB is typically a 3 dose series (2 doses for low risk patients)
      2. MenB Vaccines are not interchangeable (additional doses should be with same MenB product)
    3. MenACWY + MenB/Trumenba (Penbraya)
      1. FDA approved for age 10 years and older in 2024
    4. MenACWY + MenB/Bexsero
      1. Pending FDA approval in 2025
  3. Other combinations
    1. Menhibrix (Hib-MenCY, high risk infants only who are also due for Hib Vaccine)

VII. Dosing

  1. General dosing protocol if under age 16 years at time of first dose
    1. Booster dose before entering high risk environment (e.g. college dormitory, travel to endemic area, lab workers)
  2. General dosing protocol if over age 16 years at time of first dose
    1. Single dose with no booster recommended
  3. Indications for a two dose series (with 2 month interval) and no further boosters
    1. Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection
  4. Indications for a two dose series (with 2 month interval) and future boosters every 5 years
    1. No functioning Spleen or
    2. Persistent complement deficiency
  5. Miscellaneous points
    1. If Menomune (MPSV4) was given previously, wait at least 3 years before giving Menactra

VIII. Efficacy

  1. Menactra has a high seroconversion rate (98%-100%), similar to Menomune
  2. Duration: Menactra >8 years (more than double that of Menomune's 3 year duration)
  3. Universal Immunization has NOT been recommended for non-high risk patients ages 20 to 55 years
    1. Very low overall Meningitis risk in this low risk group group
    2. Vaccination in this low risk group has not been shown to lower disease Prevalence

IX. Precautions: Safety

  1. No longer associated with Guillain-Barre (despite early reports)
  2. Vaccine has no preservative (single use vial)
    1. Does not contain thimerosal (contrast with prior MenomuneVaccine)
  3. Safe in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
    1. See Immunization in HIV

X. Adverse Effects

  1. Serious adverse events are uncommon (<1.3%)
  2. Headache
  3. Fever (in up to 3% of children)
  4. Local reactions such as injection site redness (more common with Menactra than with Menomune)
  5. Syncope

XI. Resources

  1. CDC Immunization Schedules (last accessed 10/28/2020)
    1. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/index.html
  2. Menactra (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4d8781ff-9366-462c-8161-6e958f44fcb4
  3. Menveo (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=2dc730d5-55fd-4e98-8c8a-daa7d8f872b0
  4. MenQuadfi (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=ab1c3318-578e-4d0c-a21e-fc6df07e9fb7
  5. Penbraya (DailyMed)
    1. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=fd5652b6-5ae4-437e-a456-47deaf500794

XII. References

  1. (2025) Presc Lett 32(1):1-2
  2. Ackerman (2015) Am Fam Physician 92(6): 460-8 [PubMed]
  3. Bilukha (2005) MMWR Recomm Rep 54(RR-7):1-21 [PubMed]
  4. Peter (2001) Pediatr Infect Dis J 20:311-2 [PubMed]
  5. Ruben (2001) Clin Infect Dis 32:170-2 [PubMed]

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Related Studies

Ontology: Meningococcal vaccine (C0700144)

Definition (NCI) Any vaccine derived from Neisseria meningitidis whether in whole-cell or acellular form used for prophylaxis against meningitis.
Definition (MSH) Vaccines or candidate vaccines used to prevent infection with NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS.
Concepts Pharmacologic Substance (T121) , Immunologic Factor (T129)
MSH D022401
SnomedCT 424891007, 423531006, 69728004, 396430005
English Meningococcus vaccine (substance), Meningococcus vaccine, Meningococcus vaccine (product), Meningococcal vaccine, meningococcal vaccine (medication), meningococcal vaccine, Meningococcal Vaccines [Chemical/Ingredient], Meningococcal Vaccine,Meningococcal Vaccine, meningococcus vaccine, meningococcal vaccines, Meningococcal Vaccine, Meningococcal Vaccines, Vaccine, Meningococcal, Vaccines, Meningococcal, Meningococcal vaccines
Swedish Meningokockvacciner
Spanish vacuna antimeningocócica, vacuna antimeningocócica (producto), vacuna antimeningocócica (sustancia), Vacunas Meningococicas
Czech meningokokové vakcíny
Finnish Meningokokkirokotteet
Russian VAKTSINY MENINGOKOKKOVYE, MENINGOKOKKOVYE VAKTSINY, ВАКЦИНЫ МЕНИНГОКОККОВЫЕ, МЕНИНГОКОККОВЫЕ ВАКЦИНЫ
Japanese ワクチン-髄膜炎, 多糖類ワクチン-髄膜炎, 髄膜炎多糖類ワクチン, 髄膜炎ワクチン
Italian Vaccino meningococcico, Vaccini meningococcici
Polish Szczepionki przeciw meningokokom, Szczepionki przeciw zakażeniu meningokokami
Portuguese Vacinas contra Meningococos, Vacinas contra Neisseria meningitidis, Vacinas Meningocócicas
French Vaccins antiméningococciques, Vaccin antiméningococcique, Vaccin méningococcique, Vaccins méningococciques
German Menigokokkenvakzine
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Menactra (C1567129)

Concepts Immunologic Factor (T129) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
MSH D022401
English Menactra
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Ontology: Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine MCV4 (C3272755)

Definition (NCI) A conjugate vaccine of meningococcal polysaccharide used for active immunization against invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningiditis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135.
Concepts Immunologic Factor (T129) , Pharmacologic Substance (T121)
English Meningococcal Polysaccharide (Serogroups A, C, Y and W-135) Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugated Vaccine, Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine MCV4, Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine MCV-4, MCV4
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

Related Topics in Immunization

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