Te rongoā āraimate mate meningococcal Meningococcal vaccines

The MenB vaccine was added to the National Immunisation Schedule for babies on 1 March 2023. All tamariki under 5 years old can catch up for free. MenB and MenACWY vaccines are available for rangatahi (young people) 13 to 25 years old in certain close-living situations.

What meningococcal vaccines protect you from

Meningococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria. It can lead to 2 very serious illnesses:

meningitis — an infection of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord
septicaemia — blood poisoning.

There are different types of meningococcal bacteria, including A, B, C, W, and Y. In New Zealand, most meningococcal disease is caused by group B bacteria.

The disease is spread in similar ways to the common cold — by coughing and sneezing, or by contact with saliva (spit).

Risks of meningococcal disease

Meningococcal disease can develop rapidly and be life-threatening. It can become deadly in just a few hours.

People who survive meningococcal disease often have serious long-term effects, including amputation of limbs, hearing loss, seizures, brain injury, and permanent skin scarring.

The meningococcal vaccines protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease

MenB immunisation for tamariki under 5 years old

On 1 March 2023, the meningococcal B (MenB) vaccine was added to the National Immunistion Schedule for babies at 3 months, 5 months, and 12 months old.

Your pēpi will be offered the MenB vaccine as part of their usual scheduled immunisations.

There is also an option to have your pēpi immunised slightly earlier at 2 months, 4 months, and 12 months old. This will mean extra appointments. You can discuss this with your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider during your baby’s 6-week immunisation appointment.

MenB vaccine catch-ups

If your tamariki received their 3 month, 5 month, or 12 month immunisations before 1 March 2023, they would not have received the MenB vaccine. But they can catch up.

All tamariki under 5 years old, who have not been fully immunised against MenB, can catch up for free until 31 August 2025.

https://youtu.be/jXG_yVu2ZJA

View transcript for Immunise your child and protect them from meningococcal disease

Meningococcal disease is very dangerous. It makes pēpi and tamariki very sick very quickly, and it can kill.

Meningococcal infection can cause meningitis - an infection of the lining of the brain and septicaemia - a life-threatening infection in the blood.

Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose. Early symptoms are similar to viral infections like the flu.

Tamariki can be dangerously ill by the time they are diagnosed.

There are different types of meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal B disease has caused a lot of disease in Aotearoa and resulted in many deaths in pēpi and tamariki.

Protect pēpi with meningococcal immunisation. This is life-saving.

Pēpi can have this at 3, 5 and 12 months with their other immunisations.

Or, pēpi can get even earlier protection and have their meningococcal immunisation at 2, 4 and 12 months.

Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi who have higher rates of meningococcal disease.

You can have meningococcal B immunnisation at GP practices and Māori and Pacific immunisation providers.

MenACWY and MenB for ages 13 to 25 years old

MenACWY and MenB vaccines are free for ages 13 to 25 years old entering into their first year of close-living situations (including up to 3 months before).

Close living situations include:

boarding schools hostels
tertiary education halls of residence
military barracks
youth justice facilities
prisons.

Close living situations does not include:

flatting
other group living situations.

If you have previously had meningococcal vaccinations

If your last meningococcal vaccinations were more than 5 years ago, get immunised again for best protection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSEEuMpjIZY

Video transcript

[Abbie] My name is Abbie, I'm 18 years old and next year I'm going to be heading off to the University of Canterbury and I'm doing a Bachelor of Science where I'm going to major in medicinal chemistry.

[Jayden] My name is Jayden and I'm 17 years old. I'm heading up to the University of Auckland next year to study engineering. Just last week I got the meningococcal vaccine to protect myself.

My medical centre emailed advertising about it that it was government funded, so I decided to get it.

The email advertised it as a good protection for staying in a hall of residence where there's so many people in a confined space.

[Abi] I had the meningococcal vaccine early last week I learned that meningitis can actually be quite dangerous and can come really bad, really quickly. [Jayden] It didn't hurt at all I just got the vaccine a sore arm for a couple days but that's just the normal.

[Abi] I've got all my childhood vaccines from very young to now so for me this is just another vaccine I need to get to protect me against another disease.

Tamariki and adults at high risk

Additional meningococcal vaccines and doses may be available and free for children and adults at high risk of disease due to medical conditions, or people who have been in close contact with someone with meningococcal disease. these include the:

MenB vaccine
MenACWY vaccine
meningococcal C vaccine (given to young babies).

Talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to see if this is recommended for you or your tamariki.

If you are not eligible for a free meningococcal vaccine

If you, or your tamariki, are not eligible for free meningococcal immunisations and you would like to be protected, talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider about whether extra protection is a good idea and what it might cost.

On average 1 dose of a meningococcal vaccine costs $130.

How to book an meningococcal vaccine

Meningococcal vaccine bookings can be made:

directly with your usual doctor, nurse, pharmacy or healthcare provider
online through Book My Vaccine (external link), or
over the phone by calling 0800 28 29 26 – 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Which vaccines are used

MenB vaccine

Bexsero is the vaccine we use in New Zealand to protect against meningococcal B.

Bexsero information — Medsafe (PDF 257KB) (external link)

MenACWY

Menactra or MenQuadfi are the free vaccines we use in New Zealand to protect against meningococcal A, C, W, and Y. You need 1 dose.

Menactra information — Medsafe (PDF 32KB) (external link)

MenQuadfi information — Medsafe (PDF 307KB) (external link)

Meningococcal C vaccine

High-risk babies under 12 months may be offered NeisVac-C to protect against meningococcal C.

NeisVac-C information — Medsafe (PDF 246KB) (external link)

The MenB vaccine can cause quite high fevers – particularly for tamariki under 2 years.

Before the vaccination

If possible give your tamariki paracetamol just before the vaccination appointment time. Check the instructions on the paracetamol label to find out how much to give your child.

If you forget or do not have any – do not worry, your vaccinator can give some when you arrive at the appointment.

If you have questions before your appointment talk to your doctor or trusted healthcare professional.

After the vaccination

After the first dose of paracetamol, a further 2 doses of paracetamol are recommended. A 6-hour gap should be left between doses.

This will help reduce the chance of your baby developing a fever after their vaccine.

It’s important to give the exact amount recommended by the vaccinator and at the appropriate times.

Your vaccinator will ask if you have enough paracetamol at home – if not, they can provide you with a prescription, or a small supply of paracetamol.

Allergic reactions

Serious allergic reactions are extremely rare. Only about 1 in 1 million people will experience this.

Your vaccinator is well-trained and knows what to look for and can treat an allergic reaction quickly if it happens.

Serious allergic reactions normally happen within the first few minutes of vaccination. This is why your tamariki need to wait for up to 20 minutes after immunisation.

Te rongoā āraimate mate meningococcal Meningococcal vaccines

What meningococcal vaccines protect you from

Risks of meningococcal disease

MenB immunisation for tamariki under 5 years old

MenB vaccine catch-ups

MenACWY and MenB for ages 13 to 25 years old

If you have previously had meningococcal vaccinations

Tamariki and adults at high risk

If you are not eligible for a free meningococcal vaccine

How to book an meningococcal vaccine

Which vaccines are used

MenB vaccine

MenACWY

Meningococcal C vaccine

Before the vaccination

After the vaccination

Allergic reactions

KidsHealth

IMAC

IMAC

Te rongoā āraimate mate meningococcal Meningococcal vaccines

What meningococcal vaccines protect you from

Risks of meningococcal disease

MenB immunisation for tamariki under 5 years old

MenB vaccine catch-ups

MenACWY and MenB for ages 13 to 25 years old

If you have previously had meningococcal vaccinations

Tamariki and adults at high risk

If you are not eligible for a free meningococcal vaccine

How to book an meningococcal vaccine

Which vaccines are used

MenB vaccine

MenACWY

Meningococcal C vaccine

Before the vaccination

After the vaccination

Allergic reactions

Related websites

KidsHealth ↗ external link

IMAC ↗ external link

IMAC ↗ external link

KidsHealth

IMAC

IMAC