Meningococcal Vaccine Safety

Overview

Meningococcal disease can refer to any illness that is caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis, also known as meningococcus.

N. meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children ages 2 through 18 years in the United States. There are six serogroups (a group of bacteria that are closely related) of N. meningitidis that cause most meningococcal disease in the world. They are referred to as serogroups A, B, C, W, X, and Y.

Available vaccines & manufacturer package inserts

MenACWY

Also known as quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines. Protects against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

• The FDA approved Menactra in 2005. Menactra® is approved for people aged 9 months through 55 years.
• FDA approved Menveo in 2010. Menveo® is approved for people aged 2 months through 55 years of age.
• FDA approved MenQuadfi in 2020. MenQuadfi™ is approved for people ages 2 years and older.

MenB

Also known as serogroup B meningococcal vaccines. Protects against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B.

• FDA approved Trumenba in 2014. Trumenba® is approved for people ages 10 through 25 years.
• FDA approved Bexsero in 2015. Bexsero is approved for people ages 10 through 25 years.

Who should & should not get the vaccine

CDC recommends adolescents receive two doses of MenACWY vaccine. Younger children and adults usually do not need MenB vaccines.

Common side effects

MenACWY

• Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given.
• Muscle pain.
• Headache.
• Feeling tired (fatigue).

MenB

• Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given.
• Headache.
• Feeling tired (fatigue).
• Muscle or joint pain.
• Fever.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. The most common side effects are usually mild and go away on their own.

A closer look at the safety data

Findings from vaccine safety monitoring systems and scientific studies have shown that MenACWY and MenB vaccines have a favorable safety profile—the body of scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports their safety. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) no longer considers a history of GBS to be a contraindication nor precaution for meningococcal vaccination.

In studies evaluating the possible relationship between Menactra and GBS, the risk of GBS after Menactra, if any, was small.1

Guillain-Barré and Menactra

GBS is a rare disorder in which a person's own immune system damages their nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. Many things can cause GBS, including common infections such as sore throats and other infections that occur in the community. While the cause is not fully understood, the syndrome often follows infection with a virus or bacteria.

The vaccine manufacturers changed the package insert for Menactra to identify a history of GBS as a precaution to vaccination. Subsequently, this precaution was added to other MenACWY vaccines.

Studies were conducted to investigate whether GBS was caused by the vaccine or was coincidental with vaccination. These studies included a combined total of over 2 million vaccinated adolescents. The results of these studies showed that there was no link between Menactra and GBS and that the risk for GBS after Menactra vaccination was not increased over the usual (non-vaccine related) GBS rate among people ages 11 to 21 years. Based on these studies, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) no longer considers a history of GBS to be a contraindication nor precaution for meningococcal vaccination.12345

How CDC monitors vaccine safety

CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are committed to ensuring that vaccines provided to the public are safe and effective. Once vaccines are licensed or authorized for emergency use in the United States, CDC and FDA continuously monitor them through several safety systems.

Resources