Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine can help prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B.  Other meningococcal vaccines are recommended to help protect against serogroups A, C, W, and Y, i.e. the Menactra vaccine that we already give at age 11 and 16.

Two serogroup B meningococcal vaccines have been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration.

These vaccines are recommended routinely for people 10 years or older who are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal infections, including:

• People at risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak
• Anyone whose spleen is damaged or has been removed
• Anyone with a rare immune system condition called “persistent complement component deficiency”
• Anyone taking a drug called eculizumab (also called Soliris^®)
• Microbiologists who routinely work with N. meningitidis isolates

These vaccines may also be given to anyone 16 through 23 years old to provide short term protection against most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease; it is especially recommended before college, or for anyone still attending college.

The recommended schedule depends on which vaccine you get:

• Bexsero^® is given as 2 doses, at least 1 month apart,           or
• Trumenba^® is given as 3 doses, with the second dose 2 months after the first and the third dose 6 months after the first.

The same vaccine must be used for all doses. We will be giving the Bexsero vaccine in our office.

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