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To: Maine Immunization Program Providers
From: Maine Immunization Program
Subject: Meningococcal B Vaccine Campaign
Date: October 19, 2022
The Maine Immunization Program is kicking off a Meningococcal B Campaign to increase Meningococcal B immunization rates across the State of Maine. The purpose for this campaign is to provide education and awareness on how we can all help prevent a very harmful and sometimes deadly disease called Meningitis or Meningococcal Disease. The Meningitis B Action Project has graciously co-branded materials with our logo for your use within your practice. We strongly encourage you to utilize these materials in educating your patients on a vaccine that they may not otherwise know existed. As healthcare professionals, it is our job to ensure that all children in Maine are offered the best protection against vaccine preventable diseases! To learn more about the powerful story behind the foundation of the Meningitis B Action Project, please visit their website at: https://meningitisbactionproject.org/.
The Meningococcal B vaccine is recommended to be given to adolescents and young adults between 16 and 23 years old (16 – 18 years only when using VFC state supplied vaccine). There are two brands of the Meningococcal B vaccine available, including Bexsero® and Trumenba®. The same vaccine must be used for all doses.
Bexsero®: Clinicians should administer as a 2-dose series to all people 16 through 23 years old (16-18 years only when using state supplied vaccine). The vaccine should be administered at 0 and 1 month.
Trumenba®: Clinicians should administer as a 2-dose series to all people 16 through 23 years old (16-18 years only when using state supplied vaccine). The vaccine should be administered at 0 and 6 months. If the second dose is given at an interval of less than 6 months, a third dose should be given at least 4 months after the 2nd dose.
Both brands of vaccine are recommended to also be given as a 2-dose series to people 10 years or older at increased risk of meningococcal disease, including:
- People aged 10 years and older who have functional or anatomic asplenia.
- People aged 10 years and older who have persistent complement component. deficiency, including people taking eculizumab (Soliris) or ravulizumab-cwvz (Ultomiris).
- People aged 10 years and older who are at risk during an outbreak caused by a vaccine serogroup, such as on college campuses.
- Microbiologists who work with meningococcus bacteria in a laboratory.
Our goal is to have clinicians vaccinate before patients graduate from high school. Shared clinical decision-making gives clinicians an opportunity to discuss the value of Meningococcal B vaccination with their patients to make a decision together about the individual’s need or desire for the vaccine based on risks, benefits, and wish for protection from the disease. Meningococcal Meningitis Vaccination Algorithm (MenACWY and MenB) is a helpful resource for use when deciding to vaccinate. This algorithm for MenACWY and MenB vaccination has been designed to facilitate meningococcal vaccination in clinical practice.
ACIP recommendations for meningococcal vaccination include:
- Administer the first Meningococcal ACWY dose at age 11-12
- Administer dose #2 of MenACWY on or after the age of 16 and give the first dose of Meningococcal B at the same time
- Administer the remaining Meningococcal B vaccine doses as directed, depending on brand of Men B vaccine used (Bexerso or Trumenba)
ACIP Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations | CDC
If you have additional questions, please contact us at (207) 287-3746 or email ImmunizeME.DHHS@maine.gov
Thank you for all that you do for the Maine Immunization Program and the children of Maine.
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