What is the meningococcal vaccine?
What are the meningococcal vaccines?
There are three meningococcal vaccines, each of which protects against different types of meningococci:
- Meningococcal vaccination against serotype C, second most common meningococcal type in Germany, since 2006 standard vaccination according to the recommendations of the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO)
- Meningococcal vaccination against serotype B, most common meningococcal type in Germany
- Meningococcal vaccination against serotypes A, C, W135 and Y
The meningococcal vaccination information below is for conjugate vaccines.
When is meningococcal vaccination useful?
There are three different meningococcal vaccines that protect against different serogroups of the pathogen. One of them is recommended as a standard vaccination (meningococcal C vaccination), the other two (currently) only in certain cases, for example in the case of certain underlying diseases or when traveling to a country with an increased risk of infection.
As mentioned above, young children are particularly susceptible to meningococcal disease (especially in the form of meningitis): Vaccination against meningococcal C – the second most common cause of meningococcal disease in Germany – is therefore recommended by the Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) for all children in the second year of life (from 12 months). This recommendation for standard vaccination has been in place since 2006.
Meningococcal B vaccination
Therefore, medical experts only advise people with certain underlying diseases to receive meningococcal B vaccination. Experts also recommend meningococcal B vaccination for people with an increased risk of infection (see next section).
Meningococcal vaccination against serogroups A, C, W135 and Y
- People with congenital or acquired immunodeficiency (e.g., absent spleen).
- Laboratory workers who may come into contact with these meningococcal serogroups at work
- Unvaccinated household contacts of people who have a severe infection with one of these serogroups (contacts should be vaccinated as soon as possible and also receive antibiotics)
- Pupils and students during long-term stays in countries where vaccination is recommended for adolescents, pupils or students (see below).
- People in Germany in the vicinity of certain outbreaks or in the case of regionally frequent occurrence of diseases with the serogroups mentioned, if the responsible health authorities give a corresponding vaccination recommendation
Experts recommend both ACWY vaccination and meningococcal B vaccination to these risk groups!
The STIKO recommends the standard meningococcal C vaccination for all children between 12 and 23 months of age, in a single vaccination dose. If parents miss this period, the vaccination should be made up as soon as possible before the 18th birthday.
Meningococcal C vaccination is often given to young children at the same time as one of the other recommended standard vaccinations (e.g. the triple vaccination against measles, mumps, rubella).
For meningococcal B vaccination, a vaccine is available that can be injected as early as two months of life (another meningococcal B vaccine is not licensed until children are ten years old). Here, several doses of vaccination are necessary:
For meningococcal vaccination against serogroups A, C, W135 and Y, when and how vaccination is given depends on the vaccine used. One vaccine is licensed for use as early as six weeks of age. Up to the age of five months, two vaccine doses (at intervals of two months) are then necessary for the basic immunization, after that usually only one.
Meningococcal vaccination as travel vaccination
As already mentioned, meningococcal vaccination can also be useful for some trips. Usually the doctor injects the ACWY vaccine. Under certain circumstances, a meningococcal B vaccination is also advisable. The German Society for Tropical Medicine and Global Health recommends meningococcal travel vaccination in the following cases:
- Travel to the African meningitis belt
- Travel to areas with current epidemic outbreaks (recommendations of the German Foreign Office),
- Belonging to a risk group with increased risk of infection (disaster relief workers, military, medical personnel).
- Pupils/students during long-term stays in countries with recommended general vaccination for adolescents and pupils or students (vaccine according to the recommendations of the destination countries)
Meningococcal vaccination against serotypes A, C, W135 and Y is also mandatory for pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia (Mecca). Vaccination must take place at least ten days before departure and is then valid for eight years (if vaccinated with a conjugate vaccine).
Meningococcal vaccination: side effects
Meningococcal vaccination often causes side effects at the injection site (such as mild redness, swelling, pain). General symptoms may also occur temporarily in the first few days afterward. These include, for example, fever, headache, feeling sick, irritability (in babies and young children), loss of appetite, gastrointestinal complaints (e.g. diarrhea, vomiting), fatigue, muscle and joint pain, and pain in the arms and legs.
Depending on the meningococcal vaccine used, the type and likelihood of possible side effects will vary. For more detailed information, please ask your doctor.
Meningococcal vaccination: When not to vaccinate?
Meningococcal vaccination: Costs
The meningococcal C vaccination is paid for by the health insurance: Since it is a standard vaccination, the statutory health insurance companies are obliged to cover the costs.