Meningococcal vaccine

Meningococcal disease can be life-threatening. It can develop and become deadly in just a few hours. People who survive meningococcal disease often have serious long-term effects. These can include amputation of limbs, hearing loss, seizures, brain injury and permanent skin scarring. Read more about meningococcal disease. 

Meningococcal vaccines are used to protect against meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. 

At least 12 groups of N. meningitidis have been identified. These groups are named by letters. The most common groups in Aotearoa New Zealand are A, B, C, Y and W. There is no single vaccine that offers protection against all groups.

The meningococcal vaccine protects you against the bacteria that causes meningococcal disease and reduces the number of people carrying N. meningitidis bacteria. This helps reduce the spread to your whānau and your community. 

Menactra® or MenQuadfi®, and Bexsero® vaccines are free for people aged 13 to 25 years during their first year of living in boarding school hostel, university hall of residence, military barracks or prison, or 3 months before they move in. 

• Bexsero is also funded for people 13 to 25 years of age who are currently living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks or prisons, from 1 March 2023 until 28 February 2024 as a catch up.
• You will need: 
  • 1 dose of the Menactra® or MenQuadfi® vaccine and,
  • 2 doses of the Bexsero vaccine. The second dose can be given eight weeks after first dose.

Bexsero is available on the childhood National Immunisation Programme

Bexsero is available for babies at 3 months, 5 months, and 12 months old. It will protect your pēpi (baby) against meningococcal B.

You can have your pēpi immunised earlier – at 2 months, 4 months, and 12 months old. This will mean extra appointments. Discuss this with your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider during your baby’s 6-week immunisations if you want to have them earlier. 

Tamariki under 5 years old

All tamariki under 5 years old, who have not had 3 doses, can catch up for free until 31 August 2025.

Read more about Bexsero.

Meningococcal vaccines may also be available and free for children and adults at high risk of disease due to medical conditions, or people who’ve been in close contact with someone with meningococcal disease. This includes:

• Bexsero
• Menactra® or MenQuadfi®
• NeisVac-C® (given to young babies).

Talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider to see if this is recommended for you or your tamariki.

If you, or your tamariki, are not eligible for free immunisations, and you'd like to be protected, talk to your doctor, nurse, or healthcare provider about whether extra protection is a good idea and what it might cost.

Having the meningococcal vaccine doesn't give you lifelong protection. When you get the vaccine, it causes your body to produce antibodies to fight against the infection if you come into contact with the illness. But, over time, the antibody levels decrease. In older children, adolescents and adults, protection is expected to last for up to 5 years after vaccination.

Meningococcal vaccines are given by injection into a muscle, usually your mid-thigh or upper arm. The number of doses needed depends on the brand used and the age of the person. You can receive more than 1 meningococcal vaccine at a time if more than 1 type is needed.

Like all medicines, meningococcal vaccines can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve over time.

Funded and unfunded meningococcal vaccines can be given by your nurse, doctor, healthcare provider, and some pharmacies.

Find a provider near you by following this link to the Healthpoint website (external link)and entering your address.

• If you're eligible for a free vaccination, there won't be a cost for the meningococcal vaccine, but there may be an administration fee.
• If you're not eligible to get a free vaccination, you will need to pay.
• Pharmacists who are trained as vaccinators can administer meningococcal vaccines to people aged 16 years and over.

Vaccines on the National Immunisation Schedule(external link) are free. Other vaccines are funded only for people at particular risk of disease. You can choose to pay for vaccines that you are not eligible to receive for free.