What meningococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for a 16-year-old?

Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for a 16-Year-Old

For a 16-year-old, both the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) and the meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) are recommended, with MenACWY being the primary recommendation as a routine vaccination. 1

MenACWY Vaccine Recommendations

Primary Recommendation

• A 16-year-old should receive the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY) if they have not already received a dose after their 16th birthday 1
• If the adolescent received their first MenACWY dose before age 16, they should receive a booster dose at age 16 1
• MenACWY vaccines are interchangeable, meaning any available product can be used 1

Available MenACWY Products

• MenACWY-D (Menactra)
• MenACWY-CRM (Menveo)
• MenACWY-TT (MenQuadfi)

Special Considerations

• College freshmen living in residence halls should receive at least one dose of MenACWY within 5 years before college entry 1
• The preferred timing of the most recent dose is on or after the 16th birthday 1
• If only one dose was administered before the 16th birthday, a booster dose should be administered before college enrollment 1

MenB Vaccine Recommendations

Secondary Recommendation

• For a 16-year-old, meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) may also be administered based on shared clinical decision-making 1
• The preferred age for MenB vaccination is 16-18 years 1

Available MenB Products and Dosing

• MenB-FHbp (Trumenba): 2 doses at 0 and 6 months
• MenB-4C (Bexsero): 2 doses at least 1 month apart

Important Note

• MenB vaccines are not interchangeable - the same product must be used to complete the series 1

Administration Considerations

• Both MenACWY and MenB vaccines can be administered during the same visit at different anatomical sites 1
• There is no contraindication to giving the meningococcal B and quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines on the same day as long as different administration sites are used 1

Safety Profile

• Common adverse reactions for MenACWY in adolescents include pain at the injection site (41%), headache (30%), myalgia (18%), malaise (16%), and nausea (10%) 2
• Common adverse events of MenB vaccine include severe pain at injection site, fever, severe headache, fatigue, and muscle pain 3

Rationale for Recommendations

• Meningococcal disease is rare but potentially life-threatening with significant mortality and morbidity 3
• The CDC recommends a first dose of MenACWY at age 11-12 years and a booster dose at age 16 years to provide protection during the period of increased risk 3
• College students have a higher risk during outbreaks, with a 200-1400-fold increased risk of serogroup B meningococcal disease 3

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

1. Not checking if the adolescent already received MenACWY after turning 16
2. Mixing different MenB vaccine products when completing a series
3. Failing to administer a booster dose of MenACWY before college entry if the first dose was given before age 16
4. Not considering MenB vaccination, which is recommended based on shared clinical decision-making for this age group

By following these recommendations, you can ensure optimal protection against meningococcal disease for a 16-year-old adolescent.