VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine (MenB):
What You Need to Know1

Why get vaccinated?

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by atype of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can leadto meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain andspinal cord) and infections of the blood. Meningococcal
disease often occurs without warning — even amongpeople who are otherwise healthy.
Meningococcal disease can spread from person toperson through close contact (coughing or kissing) orlengthy contact, especially among people living in thesame household.
There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called“serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause mostmeningococcal disease.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease but certain
people are at increased risk, including:• Infants younger than one year old• Adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years old• People with certain medical conditions that affect theimmune system• Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates ofN. meningitidis• People at risk because of an outbreak in theircommunity
Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills
10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those whosurvive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer
disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidneydamage, amputations, nervous system problems, orsevere scars from skin grafts.
Serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines can help
prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B.
Other meningococcal vaccines are recommended to help
protect against serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

2	Serogroup
B Meningococcal
Vaccines

Two serogroup B meningococcal vaccines — Bexsero®
and Trumenba® — have been licensed by the Food andDrug Administration (FDA).

Many Vaccine Information Statements areavailable in Spanish and other languages.
See www.immunize.org/vis
Hojas de información sobre vacunas están
disponibles en español y en muchos otros
idiomas. Visite www.immunize.org/vis

These vaccines are recommended routinely for people 10years or older who are at increased risk for serogroup B
meningococcal infections, including:• People at risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal
disease outbreak• Anyone whose spleen is damaged or has been removed• Anyone with a rare immune system condition called“persistent complement component deficiency”• Anyone taking a drug called eculizumab (also calledSoliris®)• Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates ofN. meningitidis
These vaccines may also be given to anyone 16 through23 years old to provide short term protection against
most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease; 16through 18 years are the preferred ages for vaccination.
For best protection, more than 1 dose of a serogroup B
meningococcal vaccine is needed. The same vaccine
must be used for all doses. Ask your health care provider
about the number and timing of doses.

3	Somepeople should not getthese vaccines

Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine:• If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies.
If you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction
after a previous dose of serogroup B meningococcal
vaccine, or if you have a severe allergy to any part ofthis vaccine, you should not get the vaccine. Tell yourhealth care provider if you have any severe allergies
that you know of, including a severe allergy to latex.
He or she can tell you about the vaccine’s ingredients.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
There is not very much information about thepotential risks of this vaccine for a pregnant woman
or breastfeeding mother. It should be used during
pregnancy only if clearly needed.
If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you canprobably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately orseverely ill, you should probably wait until you recover.
Your doctor can advise you.
U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention

4Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chanceof reactions. These are usually mild and go away on theirown within a few days, but serious reactions are also
possible.
More than half of the people who get serogroup B
meningococcal vaccine have mild problems following
vaccination. These reactions can last up to 3 to 7 days,and include:• Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shotwas given• Tiredness or fatigue• Headache• Muscle or joint pain
• Fever or chills• Nausea or diarrhea
Other problems that could happen after thesevaccines:• People sometimes faint after a medical procedure,including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about
15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuriescaused by a fall. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy, or
have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
• Some people get shoulder pain that can be more severe
and longer-lasting than the more routine soreness thatcan follow injections. This happens very rarely.
• Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction.
Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimatedat about 1 in a million doses, and would happen withina few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.
As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a
vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What should I do?
• If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or otheremergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 and get to thenearest hospital. Otherwise, call your clinic.
Afterward the reaction should be reported to theVaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS).
Your doctor should file this report, or you cando it yourself through the VAERS web site atwww.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.
VAERS does not give medical advice.

National Vaccine Injury
6	TheCompensation Program
The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program(VICP) is a federal program that was created tocompensate people who may have been injured bycertain vaccines.
Persons who believe they may have been injured by avaccine can learn about the program and about filing aclaim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP
website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. Thereis a time limit to file a claim for compensation.

7

How can I learn more?

• Ask your health care provider. He or she can give you
the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources ofinformation.
• Call your local or state health department.
• Contact the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention (CDC):- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For
more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/

if there is a serious
5	Whatreaction?
What should I look for?
• Look for anything that concerns you, such as signsof a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or
unusual behavior.
Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives,
swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, afast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would
usually start a few minutes to a few hours after thevaccination.

Vaccine Information Statement

Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine

Office Use Only

08/09/2016
42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26