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  • Meningococcal ACWY
  • For People with Risk Factors

We have a 10-year-old getting renal dialysis. The nephrologist will be starting her on ravulizumab (Ultomiris), which interferes with C5 complement. If we administer meningococcal MenACWY vaccine and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) now, will the MenACWY interfere with the PCV?

Recommendations to separate MenACWY and PCV only apply to one of the three MenACWY vaccines, MenACWY-D (Menactra), and also only apply to individuals with functional or anatomic asplenia or HIV infection. So, you do may administer the recommended vaccines at the same time. A 10-year-old with persistent complement component deficiency also should receive a 2- or 3-dose series (depending on brand) of MenB vaccine.

As long as the child remains at high risk of meningococcal disease due to complement inhibitor use, booster doses of both MenACWY and MenB are recommended. A MenACWY booster dose should be given every 5 years and a MenB booster dose should be given one year after the completion of the primary series, followed by a booster dose every 2–3 years thereafter.

Because patients treated with complement inhibitors can develop invasive meningococcal disease despite vaccination, clinicians using Soliris or Ultomiris also may consider antimicrobial prophylaxis for the duration of complement inhibitor therapy.

Last reviewed: July 15, 2023

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