Meningococcal vaccinations

Meningococcal disease is any invasive infection that’s been caused by meningococcal bacteria (known as Neisseria meningitidis)¹.

Meningococcal is uncommon, but can be very serious. There are 13 strains or serogroups of meningococcal, but the vaccines protect you against the A, B, W and Y strains from Blooms The Chemist.

¹Better Health Victoria, Meningococcal disease – immunisation, accessed 6 February 2023

The main symptoms of meningococcal disease are¹:

• A rash of red or purple pinprick spots that do not turn skin coloured when you press on it with a finger

• Headache

• Fever

• Neck stiffness

• Drowsiness and confusion

The symptoms are different in babies and young children, which are:

• Refusing food

• Being very tired and floppy

• Having a high moaning cry

• Being fretful or irritable

The symptoms above are not every possible sign and symptom of meningococcal disease, and some symptoms may not appear at all.

In severe cases, meningococcal bacteria can invade the bloodstream and cause sepsis (a blood infection) or meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around your brain and spinal cord). However, most severe cases occur in children under the age of five, but can still happen in people of any age.

¹Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

Meningococcal bacteria is not easily spread from person to person, as the bacteria doesn’t survive for long outside of the human body¹.

However, the bacteria that’s passed between people can be passed through close and prolonged contact (including kissing or living in the same household).

Meningococcal bacteria are not easily spread by sharing drinks, food or cigarettes.

¹NSW Health, Meningococcal disease fact sheet, accessed 6 February 2023

You can be diagnosed with meningococcal after you visit your doctor and they do an examination¹. If a doctor suspects meningococcal disease, they will collect samples of blood or cerebrospinal fluid (fluid near the spinal cord). Doctors then send the samples to a laboratory for testing.

It is vital to get a diagnosis of meningococcal as soon as possible so that treatment can be started.

¹Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

After a diagnosis of meningococcal disease has been made, it’s treated with intravenous antibiotics in hospital and usually requires intensive care support¹.

¹Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

The meningococcal vaccine is the best protection available against meningococcal disease, but there is no single vaccine that protects you against all types of meningococcal¹.

You may need one to four doses, depending on the type of vaccine you get.

¹Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal vaccine, accessed 6 February 2023

There are two types of meningococcal vaccinations available, which focus on different strains of meningococcal disease. They are¹:

• Meningococcal ACWY, which provides protection against serogroups A, C, W and Y

• Meningococcal B, which provides protection against serogroup B

The reason the meningococcal vaccine that we offer has the ACWY after it is so that you know what strains of meningococcal disease you are being vaccinated from.

If you want to be vaccinated for both meningococcal ACWY and B, please speak to your doctor.

¹NSW Health, Meningococcal disease fact sheet, accessed 6 February 2023

Some common side effects of the vaccine include¹:

• Pain, redness and swelling at the injection side

• Fever

• Feeling unsettled or tired

• Decreased appetite

• Headaches

¹Healthdirect, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends the meningococcal vaccine for a range of people, including¹:

• Infants

• All infants and young children, especially those aged less than two years old

• Adolescents aged 15 to 19 years old

• People who smoke and are aged 15 to 24 years old

• People who have close household contact with those who have had meningococcal disease and have not been immunised

• People who are travelling to places such as sub-Saharan Africa that have epidemics caused by serogroups A, C, W and Y

• People who work in a laboratory that frequently handle meningococcal bacteria

• People living with HIV

• People who have had a haematopoietic stem cell transplant

• People travelling to mass gatherings, such as pilgrims travelling to the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia as Saudi Arabian authorities require a valid certificate of vaccination to enter the country

¹Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Meningococcal disease, accessed 6 February 2023

The meningococcal (ACWY) vaccine is free for babies at 12 months, adolescents through a year 10 school vaccination program and people of all ages with certain medical conditions under the National Immunisation Program.

If you are eligible for a vaccination under the National Immunisation Program (NIP), you may need to confirm with your selected Blooms The Chemist pharmacy about their NIP vaccine stock availability. Please note that there may be a service fee associated with a NIP vaccination.