Vaccines for
Meningococcal Disease
There are a number of vaccines available which protect against different types of meningococcal disease. There is no one vaccine that can protect against all of the types of meningococcal disease. Different vaccines are required to protect against the most common types of meningococcal disease – one to protect against meningococcal group A,C,W & Y disease, and another vaccine to protect against meningococcal group B disease. There is also a separate vaccine available to protect against meningococcal group C disease.
vaccines which are recommended and funded*
The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) is recommended and funded for:
all infants at ages 3 months, 5 months and 12 months, with a limited catch-up programme for children under 5 years (until 31 August 2025).
The meningococcal B vaccine, the meningococcal ACWY vaccine or the meningococcal C vaccine (according to age) are recommended and funded for:
patients pre- or post-splenectomy or with functional or anatomical asplenia
patients with HIV, complement deficiency (acquired, including monoclonal antibody therapy against C5, or inherited)
patients who are pre- or post-solid organ transplantc
HSCT (bone marrow transplant) patients
patients prior to planned immunosuppression
patients following immunosuppression
close contacts of meningococcal cases of any group
individuals who have previously had meningococcal disease of any group.
The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) and the meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Menactra or MenQuadfi) are recommended and funded for:
individuals aged 13–25 years inclusively who are entering within three months or are in their first year of living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks, prisons or youth justice residences.
vaccines which are recommended but not funded*
The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) and the meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Menactra or MenQuadfi) are recommended but not funded for:
individuals who are laboratory workers regularly handling meningococcal cultures
adolescents and young adults living in communal or overcrowded accommodation not covered by funded vaccine
individuals who are travelling to high-risk countries (see the WHO website) or before the Hajj.
The meningococcal ACWY vaccine (specifically Nimenrix) is recommended but not funded for:
high-risk infants age under 9 months in place of the meningococcal C vaccine
The meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) and the meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Menactra or MenQuadfi) are recommended but not funded for:
all infants, young children, adolescents and young adults.
*For more information, please refer to the Immunisation Handbook. Please note MenQuadfi is expected to replace Menactra in 2023.
About the meningococcal vaccines:
MENINGOCOCCAL B VACCINE – BEXSERO
Bexsero is broadly protective against meningococcal group B disease. Bexsero can be used to protect babies, children, adolescents and adults. Infants younger than twelve months of age need three doses to be fully protected. Older children, adolescents, and adults need two doses to be protected.
From 1 March 2023 the Bexsero vaccine for meningococcal B has been added to the National Immunisation Schedule. It is provided free of charge to all children under 5 years of age, and to 13 to 25 year olds living in certain close-living situations. More information is available here.
For others wishing to be protected against meningococcal B disease, Bexsero is available through your family doctor. The cost is approximately $150 per dose.
Bexsero is different to the MeNZB™ vaccine used in New Zealand between 2004 and 2011. The MeNZB vaccine was designed to target a specific type of meningococcal group B bacterium that only caused disease here in New Zealand. MeNZB was not meant for long term use. The vaccine was withdrawn once the rate of disease was significantly reduced. However, the active component of the MeNZB vaccine has contributed to the successful development of Bexsero.
MENINGOCOCCAL A,C,W & Y VACCINE – MENACTRA, MenQuadfi, OR NIMENRIX
Menactra is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. Menactra is registered in New Zealand for individuals aged 9 months to 55 years.
Menactra is also available as a purchased vaccine through your family doctor. The cost is approximately $150 per dose. For children aged 9 - 23 months, two doses are given at least three months apart. For individuals aged 2 - 55 years, one dose is given.
Menactra is funded for people aged 13-25 years inclusive who will be or are currently living in a boarding school hostel, or university halls of residence, military barracks, youth justice residences, or prisons. Children and adults with a medical condition that increases their risk of invasive meningococcal disease are also eligible for funded vaccine.
MenQuadfi is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. MenQuadfi is registered in New Zealand for individuals aged 12 months and over and given as a single dose. A single booster dose may be given to adolescent and adults who have been primed with another Meningococcal ACWY vaccine at least 4 years previously. MenQuadfi is available as a purchased vaccine through your family doctor. The cost is approximately $150 per dose.
This vaccine is funded for people aged 13-25 years inclusive who will be or are currently living in a boarding school hostel, or university halls of residence, military barracks, youth justice residences, or prisons.
MenQuadfi is anticipated to replace Menactra as the funded vaccine in 2023, for use in individuals aged 12 months and over.
Nimenrix is a meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningococcal groups A, C, W and Y. In New Zealand, Nimenrix is only available as a purchased (non-funded) vaccine for individuals from 6 weeks of age through your family doctor. The cost is approximately $150 per dose. For infants aged under 12 months, two doses are given eight weeks apart, with a booster from age 12 months at least six months after the second dose. For adults and children from age 12 months, one dose is given. A booster may be indicated in some individuals.
For more information about the recommended immunisation schedule see Section 13.5 of the Immunisation Handbook 2020.
