NEW MENINGOCOCCAL B VACCINE: What you should tell your patients

The VCH Travel Clinic is now offering a new vaccine called Bexsero (4CMenB) that helps protect against meningococcal B disease. If your clients or patients are four years of age or under or between 15 and 19 years old, please mention this vaccine to their parents.

The meningococcal vaccine that is part of the routine infant and grade 6 schedule for B.C. residents does not protect against Meningococcal B disease. Meningococcal B is the same strain causing recent outbreaks in U.S. universities.

What is meningococcal disease?
Meningococcal disease is a rare but serious and potentially fatal bacterial infection that is vaccine preventable. Meningococcal disease starts like many other infections with headache, nausea, vomiting and fever. This infection can quickly spread into the protective membranes of the brain and spinal cord (meningococcal meningitis) and into the bloodstream (meningococcal septicemia) causing bleeding into the skin and organs. The infection causes death within 24 – 48 hours in 10 – 20% of cases. Lifelong disabilities like amputations, brain injury, deafness, and skin scarring occur in 20 – 30 % of cases.

How common is the meningococcal B disease?
Meningococcal disease is a rare but life threatening illness.  In Canada meningococcal groups B, C, W, and Y cause disease.

How does the vaccine work?

• It stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies against meningococcal B bacteria.
• 4CMenB is a 4 component vaccine that specific antibodies recognize and kill Meningococcal B bacteria that contain at least one of these components.

Is it safe?

• There have been no unusual patterns of serious reactions to date.

• Bexsero is the result of more than 40 years of vaccine research and a comprehensive clinical program.

• Common vaccine side effects are soreness where the shot is given, muscle aches, as well as fever, sleepiness and fussiness in babies for a day or so after. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) reduces the fevers and can safely be given at the same time as the vaccine.

Interested in getting the 4CMenB vaccine?
Bexsero costs about $125 a dose. Extended health care plans may cover the cost. Contact your health care plan and give them the Bexsero Drug Identification Number 02417030 to find out about your child’s coverage.

Call the VCH Travel Clinic to make an appointment: 604.736.9244

More info on the various meningitis vaccines: http://travelclinic.vch.ca/menivac.html