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Immunization

Meningococcal B

The Men-B (Bexsero®) vaccine protects against illness caused by group B meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis).

• This vaccine is currently only available free (publicly funded) in Ontario tor those 2 months to 17 years with the following conditions:

• Anyone who does not have a spleen, or whose spleen is not working well.
• Anyone with congenital complement, properdin factor D deficiency or primary antibody deficiencies.
• Anyone who has or will have a cochlear implant.
• Anyone who has an acquired complement deficiency.
• Anyone who has HIV.
• Close contacts of cases.

  • In clinical trials this vaccine has shown to provide immunity to toddlers and children after at least two doses, and to adolescents/adults after 1 dose.

• At this time there are no other ways to prevent this disease.
• Hand washing and covering the mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing can help reduce the spread of disease.
• Meningococcal bacteria is also spread by sharing items that come in contact with the nose and throat (i.e. lipstick, water bottles, straws, toothbrushes), so not sharing these items decreases the risk of spreading this bacteria.

• The risk of a serious reaction or side effect from this vaccine is much less than the risk of meningitis.
• If you experience any side effect worse than what is listed below, please seek medical advice and notify the health unit.

Common

• Fever
• Pain where needle was given
• Swelling
• Redness
• Sleepiness
• Irritability

Rare

• Anaphylaxis

  * Higher rates of fever have occurred when Men-B vaccine and other routine childhood vaccines are given at the same visit. Therefore, Men-B vaccine should be given at a separate visit from other routine childhood vaccines for children up to three years of age.

 
• Anyone with a fever or other illness/infection other than a cold.
• Anyone who has had an allergic or anaphylactic reaction to this vaccine.
• Anyone who has any allergies to any of the vaccine components.

Bexsero®

Also found in…

Sodium chloride

Table salt

Histidine

Chicken, Fish

Sucrose

Table sugar

Aluminium

Breast milk, infant formula

Latex

Balloons
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