- Meningococcal B
- For People with Risk Factors
We have a 19-year-old patient with a history of vasculitis, nephritis, and asthma. She is on azathioprine (Imuran) and is immunosuppressed. In addition to vaccinating her with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in accordance with current guidelines, her rheumatologist also recommends she receive vaccine for meningococcal B disease (MenB). Is MenB vaccine recommended for immunosuppressed people?
MenB is not specifically recommended for immunosuppressed people. However, after discussing the pros and cons of vaccination (also known as shared clinical decision-making), people age 16 through 23 years who are not at increased risk may receive routine MenB vaccination with either a 2-dose series of Bexsero (MenB-4C) 4 weeks apart, or a 2-dose series of Trumenba (MenB-FHbp) 6 months apart. Penbraya (MenABCWY, Pfizer) is also an option if both Trumenba and MenACWY vaccines are due at the same visit and it has been at least 6 months since the most recent dose of Penbraya.