Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations
Below are summaries of recommendations from CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). For the full text of the recommendations, see Meningococcal ACIP Vaccine Recommendations.
Routine Vaccination of Adolescents
All 11 to 12 year olds should receive a meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Since protection wanes, CDC recommends a booster dose at age 16 years. The booster dose provides protection during the ages when adolescents are at highest risk of meningococcal disease.
Adolescents and young adults (16 through 23 years old) may also receive a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. The preferred age for receipt is 16 through 18 years so adolescents have protection during the ages of increased risk. However, CDC recommends that certain adolescents and young adults should receive a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. They include those at increased risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak and people with certain medical conditions. Those medical conditions include
- Complement component deficiencies (e.g., C5-C9, properdin, factor H, factor D, or are taking a complement inhibitor such as Soliris® or Ultomiris®)
- Functional or anatomic asplenia (including sickle cell disease)
See Meningococcal Vaccination for Adolescents: Information for Healthcare Professionals for additional information.
Vaccination of Children and Adults at Increased Risk
In certain situations, children and adults should also receive meningococcal vaccines. Some people are at increased risk for meningococcal disease due to
- Having certain medical conditions
- Taking specific medications
- Travel
- Their profession
- A meningococcal disease outbreak
See Meningococcal Vaccination: Summary of Who and When to Vaccinate for recommendations by vaccine, age, and risk indication.
Contraindications and Precautions
Do not administer meningococcal vaccines to:
- A person who has ever had a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose
- A person who has a severe allergy to any vaccine component
If otherwise indicated, clinicians may administer meningococcal vaccines to pregnant or breastfeeding women.
- MenACWY: Give to pregnant women at increased risk for serogroup A, C, W, or Y meningococcal disease
- MenB: Give to pregnant women at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease if the provider and patient deem that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks
Clinicians may administer meningococcal vaccines, if the provider and parent or patient deems the benefits to outweigh the risks, to:
- A person who has a moderate or severe acute illness with or without fever
- ACIP—Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
- Contraindications and Precautions
- General Best Practice Guidelines for Immunization
- To Meningococcal Vaccination (see page 241)pdf icon[16 pages]
From the Pink Book’s Chapter on Meningococcal Disease - To Vaccination (General Information)
From the Pink Book’s General Recommendations on Immunization
- Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations pdf icon[1 page]external icon
Immunization Action Coalition - Meningococcal Vaccination for Adolescents: Information for Healthcare Professionals
- Meningococcal Vaccine Information Statements
- MenACWY (English / Other Languagesexternal icon)
- MenB (English / Other Languagesexternal icon)
- Standing Orders
Immunization Action Coalition - Use of Vaccines to Prevent Meningitis in Persons with Cochlear Implants