The Disease

Meningococcal disease can be caused by various types of the meningococcal bacterium. These can cause meningitis and blood poisoning; these are serious illnesses that kill 1 in 20 of children who get them, with a further 1 in 10 children suffering some form of permanent disability such as scarring, hearing loss or even amputation of part of a limb. However, the disease is thankfully uncommon. Before immunisation against meningococcus type C started in 1999, about 1300 children under 5 years of age contracted Meningococcal disease every year in the UK. Of these,about half had Meningitis B (for which there is no vaccine available) and a little over a third had Meningitis C, against which a vaccine was introduced in the UK in 1999. The remaining cases were caused by other strains including W135 and Y. Groups C and W135 are particularly dangerous, killing 1 in 7 children who catch these strains.¹

Meningococcal disease occurs mainly in the first few years of life, though teenagers are more susceptible than other age groups.

The Vaccine

A Meningitis C vaccine was introduced into the UK in 1999. It is given in the UK national immunisation schedule at 3, 4 and 12 months. It can also be given as a single dose from 12 months of age, an option preferred by several European countries. All the Men C vaccines contain aluminium.

There is now a new aluminium-free Men ACWY (Menveo) vaccine available. Though not yet licensed for young children it is recommended by the UK Department of Health for young children over 2 months of age travelling to areas where the strains of meningococcus contained in Menveo are common. The vaccine provides good immunity when given as 2 doses at 6 and 12 months or as a single dose at 12 months. ² Menveo protects against four types of meningococcal infection, providing a small increase in protection in the UK, but a large increase in protection for parts of the world where the three additional types cause a far greater proportion of meningococcal infections than they do in the UK.

The vaccines cause redness, swelling or tenderness in around 1 in 3 children. Some children develop a fever; irritability, drowsiness, difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite and diarrhoea may all occasionally occur. ²

The choices

Meningitec
Type of vaccine:	Monovalent meningococcal group C vaccine
Manufacturer:	Wyeth
Protects against:	Men C
Active ingredients:	10µg capsular polysaccharide of Men C
Mercury content:	Nil
Aluminium content:	0.125mg
Other ingredients:	15µg diphtheria toxoid (as conjugate)
Primary course:	If given under one year of age: 3 doses If given over 12 months of age: 1 dose
Boosters:	Single dose from 12 months if primary course completed before 12 months

Menjugate
Type of vaccine:	Monovalent meningococcal group C vaccine
Manufacturer:	Novartis
Protects against:	Men C
Active ingredients:	10µg capsular polysaccharide of Men C
Mercury content:	Nil
Aluminium content:	0.35mg
Other ingredients:	12.5-25µg diphtheria toxoid (as conjugate) Mannitol Sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate Disodium phosphate - heptahydrate
Primary course:	If given under one year of age: 3 doses If given over 12 months of age: 1 dose
Boosters:	Single dose from 12 months if primary course completed before 12 months

Menveo
Type of vaccine:	Quadrivalent meningococcal group A,C,W135&Y vaccine
Manufacturer:	Novartis
Protects against:	Meningococcus groups A,C,W135,&Y
Active ingredients:	10µg meningococcal group A oligosaccharide 5µg meningococcal group C oligosaccharide 5µg meningococcal group W135 oligosaccharide 5µg meningococcal group Y oligosaccharide
Mercury content:	Nil
Aluminium content:	Nil
Other ingredients:	32.7-53.1µg diphtheria toxoid (as conjugate) Potassium dihydrogen phosphate Sodium dihydrogen phosphate monohydrate Disodium phosphate dihydrate
Primary course:	3 doses under 1 year of age; or 2 doses at 6 and 12 months; or a single dose over 12 months of age
Boosters:	1 dose after 12 months of age if primary course given during first year of life

Menitorix
Type of vaccine:	Double Hib & Men C vaccine
Manufacturer:	GlaxoSmithKline
Protects against:	Hib Men C
Active ingredients:	5µg capsular polysaccharide of Hib 5µg capsular polysaccharide of Men C
Mercury content:	Nil
Aluminium content:	Nil
Other ingredients:	17.5 µg tetanus toxoid (as conjugate) Trometamol Sucrose
Primary course:	3 doses given during the first year of life
Boosters:	Single dose from 12 months of age

The supply of single and small combination vaccines may change over time. At BabyJabs we are on the constant lookout for safe and effective vaccines to offer your child. We may obtain different vaccines to those listed above. We will only offer you alternative vaccines if we are completely confident of their safety and efficacy.


Go back to vaccines at a glance

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¹ Shigematsu M, Davison KL, Charlett A, Crowcroft NS. National enhanced surveillance of meningococcal disease in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, January 1999-June 2001. Epidemiology & Infection 2002; 129: 459-470.

² Halperin SA, Diaz-Mitoma F, Dull F, Anemona A, Ceddia F. Safety and immunogenicity of an investigational quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine after one or two doses given to infants and toddlers. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases 2010; 29: 259-267.