Types of Meningococcal Vaccines

Key points

  • There are 5 meningococcal vaccines available in the United States.
  • Meningococcal vaccines help protect against one serogroup (strain) or multiple serogroups of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.
  • Meningococcal vaccines help protect those who get vaccinated, but protection decreases over time.
  • Talk to a vaccine provider if you have questions about meningococcal vaccines.

Available vaccines

MenACWY vaccines

MenACWY vaccines help protect against 4 serogroups of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease: A, C, W, and Y. This type of vaccine is also known as a serogroup A, C, W, and Y, or quadrivalent, meningococcal vaccine.

MenB vaccines

MenB vaccines help protect against serogroup B meningococcal disease. This type of vaccine is also known as a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.

The number of shots varies by brand and level of risk.

  • Bexsero®
    • People 16 through 23 years old not at increased risk: 2 shots
    • People 10 years or older at increased risk: 2 shots
  • Trumenba®
    • People 16 through 23 years old not at increased risk: 2 shots
    • People 10 years or older at increased risk: 3 shots

MenABCWY vaccines

MenABCWY vaccines help protect against 5 serogroups of the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease: A, B, C, W, and Y. This type of vaccine is also known as a serogroup A, B, C, W, and Y, or pentavalent, meningococcal vaccine.

A MenABCWY vaccine is an option for people who are getting MenACWY and MenB vaccines at the same visit.

Penbraya™: 1 shot

How well they work

Vaccines that help protect against meningococcal disease work well but cannot prevent all cases.

As part of the licensure process, MenACWY, MenB, and MenABCWY vaccines showed that they produce an immune response. This immune response suggests the vaccines provide protection, but data are limited on how well they work. Since meningococcal disease is uncommon, many people need to get these vaccines in order to measure their effectiveness.

MenACWY vaccines

Available data suggest that protection from MenACWY vaccines decreases in many teens within 5 years. Getting the 16-year-old MenACWY booster shot is critical so teens have protection when they are most at risk for meningococcal disease.

Experts are unsure to what extent MenACWY vaccines protect the larger, unvaccinated community through population or herd immunity.

MenB vaccines

Available data on MenB vaccines suggest that protective antibodies decrease quickly (within 1 to 2 years) after vaccination.

Experts believe MenB vaccines don't provide protection to unvaccinated people through population immunity.

MenABCWY vaccine

Available data on MenABCWY vaccine suggest that its protection follows a similar pattern as noted above for the MenACWY and MenB components.

Resources

Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statements

MenACWY: English | Other languages

MenB: English | Other languages

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Content Source:
National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases; Division of Bacterial Diseases