At the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC), we receive many email questions from healthcare professionals each month indicating that there is confusion about the routine vaccination schedules for meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) and meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccines. What follows is simple guidance regarding CDC/AAP/AAFP/ACOG routine recommendations for the timing of administering these vaccines to your adolescent patients.

Important note: This brief summary article discusses only the routine schedule. It does not include catch-up schedules or recommendations for people in various risk groups.

Recommended schedules for routine vaccination

Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine
(Menactra®, Sanofi; Menveo®, GSK)

• Dose #1: Age 11 to 12 years
• Dose #2: Age 16 years

Unfortunately, most teens are behind on the 16-year-old dose of this two-dose series. According to the most recent CDC National Immunization Survey – Teen, only 33 percent of teens have received dose #2 before their 18th birthday.

Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine
(Bexsero®, GSK; Trumenba®, Pfizer)

The preferred age range for routine* vaccination is 16 to 18 years, but MenB may be initiated up to age 25. Currently, there are two brands of MenB available in the United States:

Bexsero (GSK)

• Dose #1: Age 16 to 18 years
• Dose #2: > one month after dose #1

Trumenba (Pfizer)

• Dose #1: Age 16 to 18 years
• Dose #2: Six months after dose #1**

Note: These two vaccine brands are not interchangeable. The series must be started and completed with the same MenB brand.

*MenB vaccine is recommended by CDC as category B, which means that you can either give it routinely or that you can inform patients about the availability of this vaccine so they can decide in consultation with you if they want this protection.

**This article does not discuss the recommendation for including a third dose of Trumenba, which is recommended for people at high risk of meningococcal serogroup B infection. Refer to the CDC schedule for additional information for high-risk individuals.

Resources from IAC

• Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations by Age and Risk Factor for Serogroups A,C,W, or Y Protection
• Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations by Age and Risk Factor for Serogroup B Protection
• Meningococcal B Vaccine: CDC Answers Your Questions
• Vaccinations for Preteens and Teens, Age 11–19 Years
• When Do Children and Teens Need Vaccinations?
• Guide to Routine MCV4 Immunization in Adolescents 11–18 Years of Age
• The Give2MCV4.org website contains a wealth of information about MenACWY vaccination.
• Webinar: Adolescent Immunization Update and the 16-Year-Old Platform, presented by William L. Atkinson, MD, MPH, IAC’s Associate Director for Immunization Education, July 10, 2017

Resources from CDC

• Recommended Immunization Schedule for Children and Adolescents Aged 18 Years or Younger, U.S., 2017
• Meningococcal Vaccination: Information for Healthcare Professionals webpage