What vaccines are available to protect against meningitis B?
Two vaccines are licensed in the United States to protect against Meningitis B.
Bexsero® is manufactured by Novartis. Bexsero® is a two-dose series. The second dose is given at least 28 days after the first dose.
Trumenba™ is manufactured by Pfizer. Trumenba™ is a three-dose vaccine series given over six months.
Who should be vaccinated against Meningitis B?
University of Oregon undergraduates, no matter how old they are, should be vaccinated against type B meningococcal disease as soon as possible. UO graduate students, faculty, and staff who live on campus, who have no spleen or whose spleen doesn’t work well (for example, in persons with sickle-cell disease), or who have a condition called "complement deficiency" should also be vaccinated. Other persons interested in being vaccinated against serogroup B meningococcal disease should consult their physician or other health care professional.
Is there anyone who should not receive a meningitis B vaccine?
Anyone with a hypersensitivity to any of the vaccine components or who had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of meningitis B vaccine should not be vaccinated.
People with weakened immune systems may have a reduced immune response to the vaccine.
Bexsero® and Trumenba™ should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed. Women who are pregnant or nursing should talk to their health care provider about whether they should be vaccinated.
I’ve already been vaccinated against meningococcal disease. Do I need to be vaccinated now?
Almost certainly. Many college students received a vaccine to protect against meningococcal disease at age 11–12, or thereafter. These vaccines protect against four types of meningococcal disease (serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135). However, the meningitis cases at University of Oregon are caused by meningococcal type B, and the meningococcal vaccine you may have received before college will not protect you against this strain. It is important to be vaccinated now against meningococcal type B.
People who have not received the meningococcal vaccine that protects against serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 should talk to their health care provider about whether they should receive this vaccine, too.
Are the meningitis B vaccines safe?
These vaccines, like any medications, have side effects. Rarely, serious allergic reactions may occur. For persons at risk of meningococcal disease in an outbreak setting, experts believe that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks.
What are the common side effects?
The most common side effects are pain, redness and swelling at the injection site. People may also experience fatigue, muscle pain, chills or headache. In general, these side effects go away within a few days.
Some people faint after getting a vaccination or any shot. At the University of Oregon vaccination clinics, you will be asked to stay for 15 minutes to make sure that fainting or a severe reaction does not occur.
What are the signs of a serious reaction to a vaccine?
Severe reactions start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. Watch for high fever, behavior changes, dizziness, weakness, fast heartbeat, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue, face or throat, hives, or other rash on the body.
What should I do if I have a serious reaction to the vaccine?
Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital if you think you need immediate care. Otherwise, call your health care provider. University of Oregon students should also report a serious reaction to the Student Health Center at 541-346-2770. Your health care provider or the University of Oregon Student Health Center may choose to report your reaction to the national Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).