Meningococcal B disease vaccination animation
Immunise your child - protect them from meningococcal disease.
Source: KidsHealth
transcribeTranscript
Meningococcal disease is very dangerous. It makes pēpi and tamariki very sick very quickly, and it can kill.
Meningococcal infection can cause meningitis - an infection of the lining of the brain and septicaemia - a life-threatening infection in the blood.
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose. Early symptoms are similar to viral infections like the flu.
Tamariki can be dangerously ill by the time they are diagnosed.
There are different types of meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal B disease has caused a lot of disease in Aotearoa and resulted in many deaths in pēpi and tamariki.
Protect pēpi with meningococcal immunisation. This is life-saving.
Pēpi can have this at 3, 5 and 12 months with their other immunisations.
Or, pēpi can get even earlier protection and have their meningococcal immunisation at 2, 4 and 12 months.
Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi who have higher rates of meningococcal disease.
You can have meningococcal B immunnisation at GP practices and Māori and Pacific immunisation providers.
Key points about meningococcal vaccination
- meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection - it causes severe illness and can cause death
- pēpi and tamariki with meningococcal disease can get sick very quickly
- there are several different types of meningococcal bacteria including A, B, C, Y and W
- pēpi can get free protection from meningococcal B disease
- pēpi can have this when they have their regular vaccinations (at 3, 5 and 12 months)
- even earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi (at 2, 4 and 12 months)
How to prevent meningococcal B disease
Vaccination against meningococcal disease is important. Meningococcal disease can develop quickly and be life-threatening. The meningococcal vaccines protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.
Bexsero is the MenB vaccine used in Aotearoa New Zealand to protect against meningococcal B.
Pēpi and tamariki can get free protection against meningococcal B disease with the MenB (Bexsero) vaccine.
Children under 5 years old
The MenB vaccine has been part of the National Immunisation Schedule for pēpi since March 2023.
Pēpi usually have the MenB vaccine at:
- 3 months and
- 5 months and
- 12 months old
Your baby can have the MenB vaccine as part of their regular scheduled vaccinations.
Getting the MenB vaccine earlier
There is also an option for your baby to have the MenB vaccine slightly earlier at:
- 2 months and
- 4 months and
- 12 months old
This will involve extra appointments. Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi. This is because they have a higher risk of meningococcal disease.
You can talk to your health professional about this during your baby’s 6-week check appointment.
Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi.
MenB vaccine catch-ups
If your child had their 3 month, 5 month or 12 month vaccinations before 1 March 2023, they may not have received a MenB vaccine. All tamariki aged under 5 years who haven’t had a MenB vaccine yet, can catch up for free.
Talk to your health professional for more information about how your child can catch up.
Children and young people aged 13 to 25 years old
MenB vaccines are free for tamariki and rangatahi (young people) aged 13 to 25 years in their first year of close-living situations. They can get their vaccine up to 3 months before entering a close-living situation. Close-living situations include boarding schools and hostels, military barracks and tertiary halls of residence. It doesn’t include flatting.
The other meningococcal vaccination MenACWY is also funded and recommended for this age group in the same living situations.
Talk to your health professional to see if this is funded for your child or young person. The meningococcal vaccines are recommended for teenagers and young people but only funded for certain groups
Talk to your health professional to check if your child can have this free protection
See the page on meningococcal disease to learn more about vaccination.
Advice about paracetamol for fever after MenB vaccination
The MenB (Bexsero) vaccine can cause quite high fevers - particularly in pēpi under 2 years. Giving your baby paracetamol reduces the chance of them developing a high fever. See the following instructions.
Give 3 doses to your baby
Check the label carefully before giving paracetamol to your baby under 2 years. Make sure it's 120mg/5mLs (not 250mg/5mls).
Dose 1 - given with or just after the vaccine, or up to 30 minutes before.
Dose 2 - give this 6 hours after the dose 1.
Dose 3 - give this 6 hours after the dose 2.
If your child is asleep when a dose is due, you don't need to wake them up. You can give the dose when your child wakes. Just make sure it's been 6 hours since the last dose.
The amount of paracetamol needed for each dose is based on your child's weight, so it changes as they grow. The vaccinator may need to check your baby's weight at each visit.
If you are using paracetamol that you already have at home, check the label on the bottle carefully. Make sure you are using the right strength for your child and that it has NOT expired. For babies, the label MUST be 120mg/5mLs (not 250mg/5mls). If you are not sure or unable to read the label don't use the medicine. Talk to your vaccinator.
See a leaflet by Health NZ - Te Whaty Ora about paracetamol and meningococcal immunisation on the HealthEd website.
Safe Use Of Paracetamol In Children
Pamphlets about protecting against meningococcal disease
Vaccinations and timings
Check when pēpi and tamariki can have their MenB and other vaccinations.
