MenACWY - Information for health professionals

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Background
Guidance
Training resources and events
Clinical resources and information
Data and surveillance

Background

Meningococcal disease is caused by invasive infection with the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, also known as the meningococcus. There are 12 identified capsular groups of which groups B, C, W and Y were historically the most common in the UK. Since the introduction of the routine MenC vaccination programme, cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the UK due to capsular group C have reduced dramatically, and capsular group B now accounts for the majority of cases.

Meningococcal disease is transmitted by respiratory aerosols, droplets or by direct contact with the respiratory secretions of someone carrying the bacteria. The incubation period is from 2 to 7 days and the onset of disease varies from severe and sudden onset with acute and overwhelming features, to insidious with mild prodromal symptoms.

Vaccine

The recommended vaccines for the MenACWY vaccine programme are the MenACWY conjugate vaccines MenQuadfi, Menveo or Nimenrix. These vaccines will continue to offer protection against meningococcal capsular group C, while offering additional protection against groups A, W and Y. Both vaccines are licensed for use in adolescents and adults and can be safely given with other routine adolescent vaccines.

Summary of product characteristics

The Complete Routine Immunisation Schedule includes information about routine and non-routine vaccinations.

Guidance

Vaccination programme recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and Welsh Government policy can be found at the links below.

Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation - GOV.UK (read JCVI publications and statements; search e.g. meningococcal)