Meningococcal ACWY vaccine (Nimenrix)
Contents of the vaccine:
Vaccine against meningitis caused by meningococci types A, C, W or Y. For injection.
Who should take the vaccine?
Nimenrix is indicated for the vaccination of individuals from 6 weeks of age against invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, W and Y.
The vaccine is used if a person has been exposed to possible infection with meningococcal disease of one of these types, Invasive meningococcal disease, post-exposure prophylaxis.
In addition, travelers to Mecca must be vaccinated with a tetravalent vaccine no later than 10 days before departure.
Before studying in the USA, vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, W, Y may be required.
The vaccine does not protect against meningitis caused by other microorganisms.
Vaccination dose:
Children aged 6 weeks to 5 months: Two doses, each of 0.5 ml, with an interval of 2 months between doses. A third (booster) dose is recommended at 12 months.
Infants from 6 months to 11 months of age: One dose of 0.5 ml followed by a booster at 12 months of age. However, there should be an interval of at least 2 months between these vaccinations.
Children ≥ 1 year of age and adults: A single dose of 0.5 ml. Administer by intramuscular injection. The preferred injection sites are the anterolateral region of the thigh in young children and the deltoid region in older children, adolescents and adults.
Who should not be vaccinated?
In case of acute, serious illness accompanied by fever, vaccination should be postponed.
People who have had serious side effects from previous vaccination with the vaccine.
People with severe allergies to one or more of the ingredients.
If in doubt, please consult your doctor.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Because meningococcal disease is so serious, vaccination should not be excluded during pregnancy and breastfeeding if there is a pronounced risk of infection.
Please refer to your own doctor.
Most common side effects:
Redness, swelling and tenderness at the injection site, headache, malaise and fever.
Duration of protection:
After primary immunization, the duration of protection is assumed to be 10 years. However, protection against serogroup A may be of shorter duration, see summary of product characteristics.
Nimenrix can be used as a booster vaccine for individuals who have previously been vaccinated with the same or another conjugated meningococcal vaccine as well as with a (unconjugated) polysaccharide vaccine.
The Norwegian Serum Institute (2023), https://www.ssi.dk/vaccinationer/vaccineleksikon/m/meningokok-acwy-vaccine---nimenrix