ACIP recommends adolescents age 11 or 12 years should be routinely vaccinated with MenACWY and receive a booster dose at age 16 years. Adolescents who receive the first dose at age 13 through 15 years should receive a one-time booster dose, preferably at age 16 through 18 years, just before the peak in incidence of meningococcal disease among adolescents occurs. Teens who receive their first dose of MenACWY at or after age 16 years do not need a booster dose, as long as they have no additional risk factors.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
In 2005, ACIP recommended routine MenACWY vaccination for all preteens at age 11 or 12 years to protect them from meningococcal disease when its incidence rises in the late teens and early 20s. Subsequent studies indicated that the protection provided by MenACWY wanes within 5 years following vaccination. For this reason, in 2010, ACIP recommended a MenACWY booster dose at age 16 to provide continuing protection during the age of increased meningococcal incidence.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
A booster dose should be given to first-year college students, regardless of age, who are or will be living in a residence hall if the previous dose was given before the age of 16 years or if their most recent dose (given after the 16th birthday) was not given within the past 5 years.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
Yes. Doses of any quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given before 10 years of age should not be counted as part of the series. If a child received a dose of either MPSV4 (Menomune, a meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine not available in the United States since 2017) or MenACWY before age 10 years, they should receive a dose of MenACWY at 11 or 12 years and a booster dose at age 16 years. A dose of MenACWY administered at age 10 may count as the first adolescent dose normally given at 11 or 12.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
ACIP recommends routine booster doses of MenACWY for people two months old or older at ongoing high risk for meningococcal infection (see www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/rr/pdfs/rr6909a1-H.pdf, Table 3). This group includes people (1) with persistent complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder) or who take a complement inhibitor (examples include eculizumab [Soliris] or ravulizumab [Ultomiris]), (2) with anatomic or functional asplenia, (3) with HIV infection, (4) who have higher risk of exposure (including microbiologists who handle Neisseria meningitidis isolates and travelers to or residents of areas with epidemic or hyperendemic meningococcal disease [such as the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa]).
Children at continued high risk who received the last dose of the primary series of MenACWY before age 7 years should receive the next dose 3 years after the most recent dose, then every 5 years as long as risk remains. People at continued high risk who received the last dose of the primary series at age 7 years or older should receive the next dose 5 years after the most recent dose then every 5 years as long as risk remains. Menveo (MenACWY-CRM) is licensed through age 55 years; however, if MenQuadfi (MenACWY-TT, licensed for use at age 2 years and older) is unavailable for an adult age 56 years or older, you may use Menveo.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
Yes, people should receive additional booster doses (every 5 years) if they continue to be at increased risk for meningococcal ACWY infection.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
The MenACWY booster dose should be given at 14 years (5 years after the primary series) and every 5 years thereafter. The every-5-year booster dose schedule for people with high-risk conditions takes precedence over the routine adolescent schedule.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
If the person cannot provide written documentation of the previous vaccination, you should assume they are unvaccinated and vaccinate accordingly.
Last reviewed:
March 24, 2024
