Meningococcal Group B Vaccine

Meningococcal Group B Vaccine is used to prevent disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B.

Meningococcal Group B Vaccine helps to protect against Neisseria meningitidis which is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis.

This vaccine is available in an injectable form to be given by a healthcare professional. Depending on which brand of vaccine you receive, it is either given as a 2-dose series or as a 3-dose series.

Common side effects of meningococcal group B vaccine include pain at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, and chills.

Meningococcal Group B Vaccine is used to prevent disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B in individuals aged 10 through 25 years of age.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Bexsero (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine) is given as a 2 dose series, at least one month apart. 

Trumenba (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine) is given as a 3 dose series. It is given once, followed by a second vaccine 2 months later, then a third vaccine 4 months later (6 months from the first dose). 

Serious side effects have been reported with the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine, including the following:

• Allergic reaction requiring treatment. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • Rash or itching
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fainting
  • Swelling of the injection site

Do not take the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine if you:

• Are allergic to the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine or to any of its ingredients
• Have had a previous reaction to a Meningococcal Group B Vaccine 

Serious side effects have been reported with meningococcal group B vaccine. See the “Meningococcal Group B Vaccine Precautions” section.

Common side effects of this vaccine include the following:

• pain at the injection site
• fatigue
• headache
• muscle pain
• joint pain
• diarrhea
• chills

This is not a complete list of side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

No drug interactions have been determined by the manufacturer. However, you should tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all drug interactions are known or reported and new drug interactions are continually being reported.

There is not enough data to show an interaction between the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine and other meningococcal vaccines, tetanus toxoid (Td), Reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine, adsorbed (Tdap).

The Meningococcal Group B Vaccine may reduce the effectiveness of the human papilloma virus vaccine (HPV), but no recommendations are in place.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Meningococcal Group B Vaccine. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if the Meningococcal Group B Vaccine crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Meningococcal Group B Vaccine.