Meningococcal Vaccines: Who Should Get Them, Side Effects and Where to Get Them

Meningococcal disease is uncommon, but it can cause serious illness and death at any age. Vaccination is the best protection.

Three types of vaccine

The United States uses three kinds:

• MenACWY — meningococcal conjugate vaccines
• MenB — serogroup B vaccines
• MenABCWY — pentavalent vaccines

Who should be vaccinated

CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination for:

• all preteens and teens
• children aged 2 months through 10 years at increased risk
• adults 19 and older at increased risk

The vaccines work well but can’t prevent every case.

Who should talk to a provider first

Discuss your vaccination history and the vaccine’s ingredients with a provider. Someone may need to skip a meningococcal vaccine if they had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a previous dose, or have a life-threatening allergy to any ingredient. A mild illness such as a cold usually isn’t a reason to wait, but a provider can advise.

Side effects

Most people have no problems. Side effects are usually mild and pass within a few days, though serious reactions are possible.

Where to get vaccinated

Children and teens: the vaccines are part of the routine childhood schedule, available at pediatric and family practices, community health clinics and public health departments.

Adults: usually a health care provider’s office or pharmacy; if yours doesn’t stock them, ask for a referral. Federally funded health centers serve people without a regular source of care, and your health department can tell you where to find vaccines locally.

Paying for it

• Most private health insurance plans cover these vaccines — check with your insurer for costs and in-network providers.
• The Vaccines for Children program provides vaccines for children whose families may not be able to afford them.

Sources

Based on "Meningococcal Vaccination," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.