How is this vaccine given?
This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle. You will receive this injection in a doctor's office or clinic setting.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended if:
- you've been exposed to an outbreak of meningococcal disease;
- you are in the military;
- you work in a laboratory and are exposed to meningococcal bacteria;
- you live in a dormitory or other group housing;
- you live in or travel to an area where meningococcal disease is common;
- you have a medical problem affecting your spleen, or your spleen has been removed;
- you have HIV;
- you use a medicine called eculizumab (Soliris) or ravulizumab (Ultomiris); or
- you have an immune system disorder called "complement component deficiency."
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine is usually given only once to adults and children 2 years and older. You may need a booster dose if you have a high risk of meningococcal infection and it has been at least 4 years since you last received this vaccine. Younger children will need to receive 2 to 4 doses.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that all teens ages 11 to 12 years be vaccinated with a single dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine. A booster dose should be given at age 16 for continued protection when teens are at highest risk of meningococcal disease.
Your booster schedule may be different. Follow the guidelines provided by your doctor or local health department.
Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine or you may not be fully protected against disease.
There are other types of meningococcal vaccine available. When you receive a booster dose, make sure you are receiving a vaccine for meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y and not for serogroup B.