Meningitis B Vaccination

 

Meningitis B Vaccination with Bexsero®or Trumenba®

 

Health promotion is a mandate for us at Paramount Pediatrics and as such we support to administration of vaccines to protect our children from diseases we know can threaten the health and even lives. Meningitis B is one of those diseases and vaccines available against it are Bexsero® (GlaxoSmithKline) and Trumenba® (Pfizer). These are both recombinant vaccines. From country to county (and Canadian province to province) licensing for Bexsero®and Trumenba®differs. This largely boils down to public health policy.

 

As you know meningococcal disease and meningitis are serious conditions. Meningococcal disease can be caused by different strains of Meningococcus bacteria including A, B, C, Y, and W-135. Menactra®Menveo®cover A, C, Y and W. In BC, routine infantile vaccination does not include B. Bexsero®or Trumenba® covers B. The families requesting this immunization generally pay privately for these latter two mentioned vaccines. However in 2014 it became recognized to provide coverage for children with specific high-risk conditions: children without a spleen; immune deficient children; pre/post cochlear implant; and HIV positive children. 

 

Unfortunately we are not able to give either Bexsero®or Trumenba® in our clinic as the set up costs for non-routine vaccines is something we cannot carry at this time. However Paramount Pediatrics highly recommends the family immunization clinic at BC Children’s Hospital for consultation and administration of such vaccines if you wish for your child to receive them. You can find details at their website:

www.bcchildrens.ca/our-services/clinics/family-immunization

 

Both serogroup B meningococcal vaccine products require more than one dose for maximum protection. The same vaccine product must be used for all doses. The Canadian CDC recommendation is that youth 10-25yrs of age can receive the vaccine with the 10-16yrs of age group being those with risk factors and the 16-25yrs of age by request or clinician’s discretion is with a preference for administration between the ages of 16-18yrs. 

​