Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can progress rapidly. Even if people survive, they may experience long-term and severe consequences such as limb amputation, hearing loss, seizures, brain inflammation, lung infection and permanent skin disfigurement.

Meningococcal vaccines protect against the bacteria that cause meningococcal disease.

Pharmacy now offers funded vaccines against meningococcal disease for those that are eligible, this includes those that are at high-risk of catching the disease (young adults living in close living situations, e.g halls of residence).

There are two vaccines available to cover majority of serogroups that are currently present in New Zealand:

1. Bexsero (Meningococcal B Vaccine) protects against the B serogroup

2. MenQuadfi (Meningococcal ACWY) which protects against the ACWY serogroups.

Both are recommended to be given at the same time for the best coverage against Meningococcal disease.