VACCINE INFORMATION STATEMENT

Many Vaccine Information Statements are 

available 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

U.S. Department of 

Health and Human Services 

Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention 

Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine:

What You Need to Know

1 Why get vaccinated?

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a 

type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead 

to meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and 

spinal cord) and infections of the blood. Meningococcal 

disease often occurs without warning—even among 

people who are otherwise healthy.

Meningococcal disease can spread from person to 

person through close contact (coughing or kissing) or 

lengthy contact, especially among people living in the 

same household.

There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called 

“serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most 

meningococcal 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 the 

immune system

 Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates of 

N. meningitidis

 People at risk because of an outbreak in their 

community

Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 

15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, 

about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities 

such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, 

amputations, nervous system problems, or severe scars 

from skin grafts.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccine can help prevent 

meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, 

and Y. A different meningococcal vaccine is available to 

help protect against serogroup B.

2 Meningococcal ACWY 

Vaccine

Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) is 

licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 

for protection against serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

Two doses of MenACWY are routinely recommended 

for adolescents 11 through 18 years old: the first dose 

at 11 or 12 years old, with a booster dose at age 16. 

Some adolescents, including those with HIV, should get 

additional doses. Ask your health care provider for more 

information.

In addition to routine vaccination for adolescents, 

MenACWY vaccine is also recommended for certain 

groups of people:

 People at risk because of a serogroup A, C, W, or Y 

meningococcal disease outbreak

 People with HIV

 Anyone whose spleen is damaged or has been 

removed, including people with sickle cell disease

 Anyone with a rare immune system condition called 

“persistent complement component deficiency”

 Anyone taking a drug called eculizumab (also called 

Soliris®)

 Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates of 

N. meningitidis

 Anyone traveling to, or living in, a part of the world 

where meningococcal disease is common, such as parts 

of Africa

 College freshmen living in dormitories

 U.S. military recruits

Some people need multiple doses for adequate 

protection. Ask your health care provider about the 

number and timing of doses, and the need for booster 

doses.
Office use only

Vaccine Information Statement (Interim)

Meningococcal ACWY 

Vaccines

08/24/2018 | 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-26

3 Some people should not 

get this vaccine

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 meningococcal ACWY vaccine, or if you have 

a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you should 

not get this vaccine. Your provider can tell you about the 

vaccine’s ingredients.

Not much is known about the risks of this vaccine for 

a pregnant woman or breastfeeding mother. However, 

pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid 

MenACWY vaccination. A pregnant or breastfeeding 

woman should be vaccinated if she is at increased risk of 

meningococcal disease.

If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably 

get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, 

you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor 

can advise you.

4 Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance 

of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on 

their own within a few days, but serious reactions are also 

possible.

As many as half of the people who get meningococcal 

ACWY vaccine have mild problems following vaccination, 

such as redness or soreness where the shot was given. If 

these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days.

A small percentage of people who receive the vaccine 

experience muscle or joint pains.

Problems that could happen after any 

injected vaccine:

 People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, 

including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 

15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries 

caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or 

lightheaded, or have vision changes.

 Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have 

difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This 

happens very rarely.

 Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. 

Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at 

about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a 

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.

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored. For 

more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/

5 What if there is a serious 

reaction?

What should I look for?

 Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of 

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, a 

fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness—usually within 

a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

 If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other 

emergency that can’t wait, call 9-1-1 and get to the 

nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Afterward, the reaction should be reported to the 

“Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System” (VAERS). 

Your doctor should file this report, or you can do it 

yourself through the VAERS web site at 

www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling 1-800-822-7967.

VAERS does not give medical advice.

6 The National Vaccine Injury 

Compensation Program

The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program 

(VICP) is a federal program that was created to 

compensate people who may have been injured by 

certain vaccines.

Persons who believe they may have been injured by a 

vaccine can learn about the program and about filing a 

claim by calling 1-800-338-2382 or visiting the VICP 

website at www.hrsa.gov/vaccinecompensation. There 

is 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 of 

information.

 Call your local or state health department.

 Contact the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC):

- Call 1-800-232-4636 (1-800-CDC-INFO) or

- Visit CDC’s website at www.cdc.gov/vaccines