From 1st March 2023, MenB ( Bexsero ) vaccine is now funded on the National Immunisation Schedule
- Infants at 3 months, 5 months and 12 months
- Adolescents aged 13 to 25 years old who are entering within the next 3 months, or are in their first year of close living (will be living in boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks or prisons).
- A catch-up programme is funded for
All children under 5 years of age (until August 2025)
Adolescents aged 13-25 years currently in close living situations (until 28 Feb 2024)
Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious infection caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis, and can cause meningitis (inflammation of the membrane around the brain), septicaemia (blood infection) or pneumonia. It is a rapidly-progressive disease and usually happens without warning.
What to expect
The most common side effects for infants and toddlers were tenderness and pain at the injection site, fever, and irritability and in adolescents and adults, pain at the injection site, generally feeling unwell, and headache.
Fever can be expected after any vaccination, but is more common with BEXSERO, particularly when BEXSERO is administered at the same time as other vaccines. The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) recommend the use of paracetamol with every dose of BEXSERO administered to children <2 years of age, regardless of the presence of fever.,