About Meningitis B
It can be sudden and deadly. But there’s good news. There is something you can do about it.
Meningococcal meningitis is the most common form of bacterial meningitis in adolescents and young adults.
It is mainly caused by 5 types of meningococcal bacteria - ABCWY. The bacteria can cause a bloodstream infection (meningococcemia) that may lead to sepsis or meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord). It can be easy to spread from person-to-person.
Bacterial meningitis can kill in a matter of hours, and attack without warning.
It can also cause permanent disabilities like brain damage, hearing loss, learning disabilities or limb amputations. We know. It’s scary, but it’s true. And it’s why you need to make sure you’ve received both the MenACWY and MenB vaccine,
Kim passed away from Meningitis B right before her high school graduation.
Emily died from Meningitis B 36 hours after her first symptoms.
Early symptoms can often be mistaken for the flu
These are just some of the symptoms of meningococcal meningitis. Call your doctor immediately if you experience sudden and severe onset of these symptoms.
It is more common among those 16-23.
5x: College students are more than 5 times more likely to contract MenB than non-college students.
50+ college campuses have reported cases of meningococcal meningitis since 2013, including 30 schools with MenB cases since 2008.
70% of all meningococcal meningitis cases among 17-22 year olds are Meningitis B
100% of all meningococcal meningitis outbreaks on college campuses in the US since 2011 are Meningitis B.
How can you help protect yourself?
Because meningococcal meningitis is mainly caused by 5 types of meningococcal bacteria - ABCWY - two separate meningitis vaccines are necessary to be fully immunized against the disease: MenACWY and MenB.
Talk to your healthcare provider today about BOTH the MenACWY and the MenB vaccine. While more adolescents and young adults have received the MenACWY vaccine, few have received the MenB vaccine. 78.2% of 17-year-olds have NOT received at least one dose of the MenB vaccine as compared to 11.1% having NOT received at least one dose of the MenACWY vaccine. You are not fully vaccinated against meningitis if you have not received both vaccines. Learn more about how providers discuss and use the MenB vaccine in clinical practice.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends both vaccines be administered as follows:
Everything you need to know about Meningitis B in 2 Minutes
Watch MenB in 90 Seconds and share with a friend to make sure they know about Meningitis B, too. It could save their life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MenB vaccine recommended by the CDC?
CDC recommends meningococcal vaccination for all adolescents. Specifically, the CDC states that all 11-to-12-year-olds should get a MenACWY vaccine, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 years old) may also get a MenB vaccine (2-dose series). People 10 years or older at increased risk for meningococcal disease should also receive the MenB vaccine.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends the MenB vaccine based on shared clinical decision making. What does that mean?
Shared clinical decision-making recommendations are individually based and informed by a decision process between the health care provider and the patient or parent/guardian. The decision about whether or not to vaccinate may be informed by the best available evidence of who may benefit from vaccination; the individual’s characteristics, values, and preferences; the health care provider’s clinical discretion; and the characteristics of the vaccine being considered. There is not a prescribed set of considerations or decision points in the decision-making process.
My child has already been vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis. Why would they need the MenB vaccine?
There are 5 vaccine-preventable groups (A, B, C, W, Y) of bacterial meningitis in the U.S; however, there is not a single shot against all 5 serogroups. The meningitis vaccine your child may have received when they were younger didn’t cover Meningitis B. To help protect against the 5 vaccine-preventable groups of meningitis, two different types of vaccines are needed, one for Meningitis AWCY and one for Meningitis B.
Why are so many teens and young adults not vaccinated against Meningitis B?
The Meningitis B vaccine is newer and was not available in the U.S. until late 2014. In addition, while the MenB vaccine is recommended by the CDC, it is not frequently mandated by states, schools, and universities. Some healthcare providers are also not discussing the vaccine with their patients.
Does insurance cover the MenB vaccine?
Yes. Most private insurers are likely to cover the MenB vaccine for teens and young adults. In addition, the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program will provide the MenB vaccine at no cost for eligible students up to 19 years of age.
What brands of MenB vaccines are there?
Bexsero® and Trumenba® are the two brands of MenB vaccines available in the U.S. Both vaccines help protect against Meningitis B.
How many doses are needed?
For both Bexsero and Trumenba, a 2-dose series is required for people aged 16-23 who are not at an increased risk of meningococcal disease. The ACIP recommends 3 doses of Trumenba for people 10 years of age or older who are at increased risk.
What is the dosing schedule for the MenB vaccines?
Both MenB vaccine products require more than 1 dose for maximum protection. For teens and young adults not at an increased risk for Meningitis B, the second dose for Bexsero should be given at least 1 month after the first dose and the second dose for Trumenba should be given at least 6 months after the first dose. For people, age 10 years and older at increased risk of Meningitis B, 3 doses of Trumenba should be administered at 0, 1–2, and 6 months.
Is there a difference between Bexsero and Trumenba?
The CDC has no preference on which MenB vaccine is used; however, they are not interchangeable and the same vaccine product is required for all doses. If an adolescent receives different products for any of the doses, proceed with the next scheduled dose of the selected product with a minimum of 1 month since the last dose of either product.
Can the MenACWY and MenB vaccines be administered at the same time?
Yes! Some providers recommend that 16 year olds receive the first dose of the MenB vaccine at the same time that they receive the second dose of the MenACWY vaccine.
Last updated August 2023