Meningococcal vaccine

The following groups should also consider having a meningococcal vaccine or vaccines to reduce their risk of meningococcal disease:

• People from as early as 6 weeks of age
• Infants and children aged less than 2 years
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6 weeks to 19 years
• People who plan to travel or live in parts of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as sub-Saharan Africa, or people participating in mass international gatherings, such as the Hajj in Mecca. Some countries require evidence of vaccination for entry visas.
• Laboratory personnel who frequently handle Neisseria meningitis
• Household or sexual contacts of a case
• People with medical conditions associated with an increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease, (IMD) such as:
• defects in or deficiency of complement components, including factor H, factor D or properdin deficiency.
• current or future treatment with eculizumab (a monoclonal antibody directed against complement component C5).
• functional or anatomical asplenia.
• HIV infection, regardless of stage of disease or CD4+ count.
• haematopoietic stem cell transplant.

People considering immunisation should seek advice from their immunisation provider, such as GP or travel doctor. 

The vaccines should not be given to people who have had:

• anaphylaxis after a previous dose of any meningococcal vaccine
• anaphylaxis after any component of any meningococcal vaccine.

Benefits

The meningococcal vaccine provides strong protection against a very serious and fast‑moving infection.

Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis, blood infection (septicaemia), severe shock and may be life-threatening, even with treatment. Survivors of meningococcal disease can experience hearing loss, brain damage, seizures and loss of limbs.

The vaccine helps stop infection from the main meningococcal types. This reduces the risk of infection and prevents meningococcal disease spreading to more vulnerable people, like infants, teenagers and individuals with medical conditions. Teens and young adults are at increased risk because meningococcal bacteria spread easily in close quarters, like schools, dorms and shared housing.

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent the life‑threatening complications associated with meningitis.

Risks

Any medicine, including vaccines, can have potentially serious side effects, such as severe allergic reaction. However, the risk of this is extremely small. For possible side effects, see below.

Refer to ‘People not recommended to have the vaccine,’ above, for more information.

All vaccines available in Australia pass strict safety testing before being approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) (external site). Vaccine safety continues to be monitored through AusVaxSafety, a national program that tracks reactions to influenza vaccines each year. Visit AusVaxSafety for more information (external site).

Meningococcal ACWY and meningococcal B vaccines are safe and effective at preventing meningococcal disease. Studies have shown that the vaccines used in WA immunisation programs are safe to use in children and adults.

Learn more about vaccine safety.

Common side effects

Common side effects of meningococcal vaccines are usually mild, occur soon after vaccination, last 1 to 2 days, and resolve without special treatment. These can include:

Common side effects of meningococcal vaccines include:

• being irritable, crying, unsettled and generally unhappy
• loss of appetite
• headache (usually in adolescents and adults)
• pain, redness and swelling where the needle was given
• occasionally a lump where the needle was given (may last many weeks – no treatment is needed)
• mild fever
• fever (especially for meningococcal B vaccine in children aged under 2).

Paracetamol advice for children under 2 years of age

To reduce the risk of fever after meningococcal B vaccination, give children under 2 years paracetamol before (or as soon as possible after) the vaccine, then 2 more doses 4 to 6 hours apart.

Serious side effects

Vaccines, like all medicine, can cause side effects. Serious reactions, such as a severe allergic reaction, are extremely rare and usually happen within minutes to a few hours after vaccination. Immunisation providers are trained to recognise and manage allergic reactions.

You can learn more about possible side effects of vaccination and what to do if they occur.

When to seek help

If you or someone you care for experiences a reaction that you are concerned about, seek medical advice:

• tell your immunisation provider if you’re still at the clinic
• see your doctor
• phone 1800MEDICARE on 1800 633 422
• visit your hospital emergency department
• call an ambulance.

Concerns about side effects

Your immunisation provider should report all suspected significant reactions, but you can also make a report.

Report any reaction that causes concern, whether minor or serious, to the Western Australian Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system (external site), WA’s central reporting service for significant adverse events (reactions) following immunisation.

Report it:

• via the WA Vaccine Safety Surveillance (WAVSS) system (external site) website
• by phoning WAVSS on 6456 0208 (9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday).

WAVSS may contact you for further information.

For more information, visit Reporting side effects after immunisation

The meningococcal vaccine is available at:

• GPs (general practices)
• Pharmacies (for people aged 5 and over)
• Aboriginal Medical Services
• community immunisation clinics

Some immunisation providers may charge a consultation fee for administering the vaccine. You should check if there are any costs when making an appointment with your chosen immunisation provider. 

For more information, see Where can I get immunised?