Generic Name: meningococcal conjugate vaccine (me NIN je KOK al KON je gate vax EEN)
Brand Names: Menactra, Menveo
What is meningococcal conjugate vaccine?
Meningococcal disease is a serious infection caused by a bacteria. Meningococcal bacteria can infect the blood, spinal cord, and brain. These conditions can be fatal.
Meningococcal disease can spread from one person to another through small droplets of saliva that are expelled into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The bacteria can also be passed through contact with objects the infected person has touched, such as a door handle, or other surface. The bacteria can also be passed through kissing, or sharing a drinking glass or eating utensil with an infected person.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is used to prevent infection caused by meningococcal bacteria. The vaccine contains four of the most common types of meningococcal bacteria.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine works by exposing you to a small dose of the bacteria or a protein from the bacteria, which causes your body to develop immunity to the disease. This vaccine will not treat an active infection that has already developed in the body.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is for use in children and adults between the ages of 9 months and 55 years old.
Like any vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
Becoming infected with meningitis (infection of the spinal cord and lining of the brain) is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
What is the most important information I should know about meningococcal conjugate vaccine?
You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a meningococcal or a diphtheria vaccine, if you are allergic to latex, or if you have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Before receiving meningococcal conjugate vaccine, tell your doctor if you have a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, a weak immune system, or if you are receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation treatment. If you have any of these conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all.
You may feel faint after receiving this vaccine. Some people have had seizure-like reactions after receiving this vaccine. Your doctor may want you to remain under observation during the first 15 minutes after the injection. Keep track of any and all side effects you have after receiving this vaccine. If you ever need to receive a booster dose, you will need to tell your doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine.
Becoming infected with meningitis (infection of the spinal cord and lining of the brain) is much more dangerous to your health than receiving this vaccine. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.
Like any vaccine, meningococcal conjugate vaccine may not provide protection from disease in every person.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before receiving meningococcal conjugate vaccine?
You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a meningococcal or a diphtheria vaccine, if you are allergic to latex, or if you have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
To make sure you can safely receive this vaccine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
a bleeding or blood clotting disorder, such as hemophilia;
any condition that weakens the immune system (such as HIV, AIDS, or cancer); or
if you are receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive meningococcal conjugate vaccine, or you may need to wait until your condition changes or you have completed your treatments.
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether meningococcal conjugate vaccine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant soon after receiving this vaccine. If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of meningococcal conjugate vaccine on the baby. It is not known whether this vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. The Menactra brand of this vaccine should not be given to anyone younger than 9 months or older than 55 years of age. The Menveo brand should not be given to anyone younger than 2 years or older than 55 years of age.
How is meningococcal conjugate vaccine given?
This vaccine is injected into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended in the following situations:
for all children 9 months to 18 years old;
for people who are in the military;
for laboratory workers who are routinely exposed to meningococcal bacteria;
for people who live in dormitories or other group housing; and
for people who travel or live among certain populations where meningococcal outbreak is common.
This vaccine is usually given as a one-time injection to adults and children who are at least 2 years old. Unless your doctor's tells you otherwise, you will not need a booster vaccine.
In children younger than 2 years old, meningococcal conjugate vaccine is given in two doses. The first shot is usually given when the child is 9 months old. The booster shot is then given 3 months later.
Be sure your child receives all recommended doses of this vaccine. Your child may not be fully protected against disease if he or she does not receive the full series.
You can still receive a vaccine if you have a minor cold. In the case of a more severe illness with a fever or any type of infection, wait until you recover before receiving this vaccine.
Your doctor may recommend treating fever and pain with an aspirin free pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, and others) when the shot is given and for the next 24 hours. Follow the label directions or your doctor's instructions about how much of this medicine to give your child.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Contact your doctor if you miss a booster dose or if you get behind schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
What happens if I overdose?
An overdose of this vaccine is not likely to occur.
What should I avoid before or after getting meningococcal conjugate vaccine?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine side effects
Keep track of any and all side effects your child has after receiving this vaccine. When the child receives a booster dose, you will need to tell the doctor if the previous shot caused any side effects. Your child should not receive a booster vaccine if he or she had a life threatening allergic reaction after the first shot. Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. You may feel faint after receiving this vaccine. Some people have had seizure-like reactions after receiving this vaccine. Your doctor may want you to remain under observation during the first 15 minutes after the injection. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
severe weakness or unusual feeling in your arms and legs (may occur 2 to 4 weeks after you receive the vaccine);
high fever; or
unusual bleeding.
Less serious side effects may include:
low fever;
redness, pain, swelling, or a lump where the vaccine was injected;
headache, tired feeling;
joint or muscle pain;
diarrhea;
nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite; or
fussiness, irritability, crying for an hour or longer.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1-800-822-7967.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Dosing Information
Usual Adult Dose for Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis:
The safety and efficacy of meningococcal conjugate vaccine in adults older than 55 years has not been established.
55 years or younger:
0.5 mL intramuscularly once.
Usual Pediatric Dose for Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis:
9 through 23 months of age:
0.5 mL intramuscularly. Two doses, three months apart.
2 years or older:
0.5 mL intramuscularly once.
ACIP Recommendations [CDC, 2011]:
Children 11 to 18 years of age: Routine Vaccination: One dose at 11 or 12 years of age with a booster dose at age 16. If primary dose was given at age 13 to 15 years, one booster dose should be given at 16 to 18 years of age. If primary dose was given 16 years of age or older, no booster dose is needed.
What other drugs will affect meningococcal conjugate vaccine?
Before receiving this vaccine, tell your doctor about all other vaccines you have recently received.
Also tell the doctor if you are using a blood thinner (warfarin, Coumadin, Jantoven), or if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the immune system, including:
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), etanercept (Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection, such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3 (Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More meningococcal conjugate vaccine resources
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Side Effects (in more detail)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Drug Interactions
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Support Group
- 0 Reviews for Meningococcal conjugate vaccine - Add your own review/rating
- Menactra Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Menactra Consumer Overview
- Menactra MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
- Menveo Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Menveo Consumer Overview
- Menveo MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare meningococcal conjugate vaccine with other medications
- Meningococcal Meningitis Prophylaxis
Where can I get more information?
- Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about this vaccine. Additional information is available from your local health department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
See also: meningococcal conjugate vaccine side effects (in more detail)
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