From the Guidelines
No, the Meningococcal Conjugate (Men-C) vaccine is not routinely administered to 2-month-old infants in the United States. The U.S. childhood immunization schedule instead recommends meningococcal vaccines at later ages. The first meningococcal vaccine typically given in the U.S. is MenACWY (which protects against serogroups A, C, W, and Y), recommended at age 11-12 years with a booster at age 16 1. For high-risk infants, such as those with complement deficiencies or during certain outbreaks, MenACWY may be given starting at 2 months, but this is not routine practice, as indicated in the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2020 1. The Men-C vaccine specifically is more commonly used in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia as part of their routine infant immunization schedules. The U.S. approach differs because the epidemiology of meningococcal disease varies by region, and the U.S. has historically had different patterns of serogroup prevalence compared to countries that routinely use Men-C in infancy. Key points to consider include:
- The recommended age for the first dose of MenACWY is 11-12 years, with a booster dose at age 16 1.
- For individuals at increased risk, such as those with certain medical conditions, vaccination may be recommended at an earlier age, including as young as 2 months 1.
- The choice of vaccine and the schedule may vary based on the individual's risk factors and the specific vaccine product used 1.
From the Research
Meningococcal Conjugate (Men-C) Vaccine Administration
- The Meningococcal Conjugate (Men-C) vaccine is administered to children in the United States, but the specific age of administration can vary depending on the vaccine and the child's risk factors 2, 3.
- According to the study published in 2013, the HibMenCY-TT vaccine, which contains MenC, can be administered to infants as young as 6 weeks of age, with a recommended schedule of 2,4,6, and 12-15 months of age 3.
- Another study published in 2010 found that combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (HibMenC) or serogroup C and Y-tetanus toxoid conjugate (and HibMenCY) vaccines can be administered according to a 2,3,4 months schedule with a fourth dose at 12-18 months of age 4.
- However, it is not explicitly stated that the Men-C vaccine is administered at 2 months of age as a standard practice for all children in the United States 2, 5.
- The recommended vaccination schedules and dosing intervals may vary depending on the specific vaccine and the child's risk factors, as well as updates to the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 2, 6.