Can the meningitis B vaccine be given to a 19-year-old?

Meningitis B Vaccination for 19-Year-Olds

Yes, the meningitis B vaccine can be given to a 19-year-old, as MenB vaccines are FDA-approved for use in persons aged 10 through 25 years. 1

Indications for MenB Vaccination in 19-Year-Olds

MenB vaccination is recommended for 19-year-olds in the following situations:

Routine Consideration

• For healthy 19-year-olds, MenB vaccination may be considered through shared clinical decision-making 1
• Particularly recommended for college students due to recent outbreaks of serogroup B meningococcal disease on college campuses 1

High-Risk Groups (Strongly Recommended)

• Persons with anatomical or functional asplenia 2, 1
• Persons with persistent complement component deficiencies 2, 1
• Microbiologists routinely exposed to isolates of Neisseria meningitidis 2, 1
• Persons at risk during a meningococcal disease outbreak attributable to serogroup B 2
• First-year college students aged ≤21 years living in residence halls 1

Vaccine Options and Dosing Schedule

Two MenB vaccines are available:

1. MenB-FHbp (Trumenba):

   • 2-dose series (0,6 months) for healthy individuals
   • 3-dose series (0,1-2, and 6 months) for high-risk individuals 1

2. MenB-4C (Bexsero):

   • 2-dose series (≥1 month apart) for all groups 1

Important: The two MenB vaccines are not interchangeable - the same product must be used for all doses in a series 2

Administration Considerations

• MenB vaccine may be administered concomitantly with MenACWY vaccine, but at a different anatomical site 2, 1
• Common adverse events include severe pain at injection site, fever, severe headache, fatigue, and muscle pain 1
• There is no recommendation for MenB revaccination at this time 2

Clinical Considerations and Pitfalls

1. Vaccine Selection: Ensure that if a series has been started with one product (Bexsero or Trumenba), the same product is used to complete the series 2

2. Timing with Other Vaccines: All recommended vaccines can be safely administered during the same visit at different anatomical sites 1

3. College Students: While college students have a lower risk of serogroup B meningococcal disease than the general population of similar age, they have a 200-1400-fold increased risk during outbreaks 1

4. Duration of Protection: Immunogenicity data shows that protective antibody levels may decline over time, suggesting that vaccinated individuals might still be at risk of meningococcal disease during adolescence 3

5. Contraindications: Do not administer to individuals with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine 1

MenB vaccination represents an important preventive measure for 19-year-olds, especially those entering college environments or with specific risk factors, to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening meningococcal disease.