FAQS: MENINGOCOCCAL C VACCINATION 2012
WHY DO WE NEED TO VACCINATE AGAINST MENINGOCOCCAL C
DISEASE IN NORTHLAND?
Meningococcal C disease is very serious, and can quickly be life threatening
or fatal. It usually presents as blood poisoning (septicaemia) and/or infection
of the brain membranes (meningitis). It mainly affects young children and
young adults.
In 2011 Northland had an outbreak of Group C meningococcal disease. 3
people died. In the rest of New Zealand cases are trending upwards, with
some recent deaths of young people.
There is a very safe, effective vaccine available which can protect against
meningococcal C disease. It has been used widely overseas, with over 57
million doses given in Europe, Canada, Australia and elsewhere.
IS IT FREE?
YES. A vaccine specific to group C meningococcal disease (Meningitec®) is
being offered free to everyone aged 12 months to under 20 years in
Northland, by most family doctors across Northland.
HOW MANY INJECTIONS ARE NEEDED?
Just ONE DOSE is required to give protection in children and young people
over 12 months of age.
HOW DOES THE VACCINE WORK?
The vaccine works by causing your body to produce substances called
antibodies in the blood. These antibodies fight the Meningococcal C bacteria.
It also stimulates your body’s immune memory. If a vaccinated person comes
into contact with the germ, the body is then better prepared to destroy it.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE VACCINE?
The vaccine works very well in clinical trials (that is, over 90% of people
receiving the vaccine will produce antibodies against the disease) but is also
very effective in "real world" situations.
In England, the introduction of the meningococcal C vaccine in 1999 led to a
95% reduction in cases in under 20 year olds by 2003 (in 1998 there were
556 cases under 20 years of age, by 2003 there were 29 cases). Likewise in
Australia, Canada and other countries where the vaccine is used, rates of
meningococcal C disease have reduced dramatically since introduction of the
vaccine.
The vaccine provides protection from about 10 days after getting it. As with all
vaccines, 100% protection cannot be guaranteed.
WHAT IS THE VACCINE MADE OF?
This vaccine is called a “conjugate” vaccine. It contains a small quantity
(10µg) of the sugar (polysaccharide) that is normally attached to the outside of
the bacteria (N.meningitidis group C), joined to a “carrier” protein. The carrier
protein is CRM197 which is a non-toxic diphtheria toxin (DT) protein.
This CRM197 conjugate protein is used in other widely used NZ and
international vaccines such as Prevenar®. The joining (conjugation) of the
polysaccharide to a protein stimulates immune memory and improves the
body’s protective antibody responses.
The vaccine also contains 0.125 mg of aluminium which is a natural element
present in foods and in the environment. We commonly ingest 2-3mg per day
in food. The aluminium acts an "adjuvant" to increase the effectiveness of the
body's response to the vaccine. In addition, the vaccine contains sterile water
and salt (NaCl).
There is no preservative in the Meningitec® vaccine.
Meningitec® is not a live vaccine, and cannot cause the disease.
HOW LONG DOES THIS VACCINE PROTECT ME / MY CHILD FOR?
The length of protection varies with the age of the child – older children and
adolescents are likely to have at least five years protection. Younger children
are likely to get fewer than five years protection, but the exact period of time
will differ in different children.
This vaccine stimulates the body’s immune memory, so if there are still high
levels of meningococcal C disease circulating in the community after a few
years, or if the disease returns, children and adolescents can be given a
booster dose. Boosters will result in a rapid production of antibodies. This is
important because meningococcal disease occurs extremely rapidly and it is
the presence of antibodies in the blood that will help prevent disease. As there
is no time for stimulation of immune memory to occur, susceptibility to disease
can occur when antibody levels fall over time.
If a large proportion of the population is vaccinated, the number of people
carrying the infection (called ‘carriage’) in their throat also reduces, so there is
less spread of the disease in the whole community. This is called “herd
immunity.”
DOES MENINGITEC® HAVE SIDE EFFECTS?
Most people have no, or minor side-effects. You/your child may get a red
swollen arm that hurts for the first few days. There may be burning or a
stinging reaction, or the arm can feel heavy. A few people get headaches,
body aches, sleepiness, fever, or vomiting and diarrhoea. These are all
normal reactions.
Serious reactions usually occur with 20 minutes of vaccination. As with any
food or medicine, anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction) is a very rare risk
(<1:500,000 doses).
WHO SHOULD NOT HAVE MENINGITEC®?
 Those acutely ill with a high fever (>38ºC) should post-pone
vaccination until well.
 People who have had previous anaphylactic reaction to any component
of the vaccine.
 Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Clinical study data on
use in pregnancy and breast-feeding are not available, so it is not
recommended to be given to pregnant women, though as this is not a
live vaccine it is not expected that it would have any deleterious effect
on the pregnancy.
Allergies, asthma and other chronic medical conditions are not a
contraindication to vaccination with Meningitec®. People with serious medical
problems such as immuno-suppression, HIV and evolving neurological
conditions should seek medical advice. If in doubt, please discuss with your
doctor.
WHERE CAN I / MY CHILD GET VACCINATED?
The vaccine is available FREE from most family doctors in Northland. IN the
October school holidays there will be a drop in clinic in Whangarei.
WHO WILL BE GIVING THE IMMUNISATION?
Usually nurses or your GP will be immunising all age groups.
CAN MENINGITEC® BE GIVEN AT THE SAME TIME AS OTHER
VACCINES, E.G., WITH THE MMR, HIB AND PCV VACCINES DUE AT 15
MONTHS OF AGE, or HPV/BOOSTRIX?
Yes. There are no known contraindications to administering multiple vaccines
at the same visit, provided they are in separate syringes and the injection
sites are separated by at least 2 cm.
WHAT IF MY CHILD HAS ALREADY HAD A VACCINATION FOR
MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?
If you/your child had Meningitec® in 2011, they DO NOT need another one in
2012.
Children and young adults were offered the MeNZB vaccine between 2004
and 2008, to control the New Zealand epidemic of Group B disease. The
vaccine used to help control this epidemic (MeNZB) was specific to that
Group B strain, and DOES NOT give protection against Group C or other
groups.
MY CHILD HAS HAD MENINGOCOCCAL C IMMUNISATION BEFORE, DO
THEY NEED ANOTHER ONE?
There will be a few young children and adolescents eligible for Meningitec® in
2012 in Northland who have had a meningococcal C immunisation as an
infant or young child – for example, they have moved here from the UK or
Australia, where the vaccine is on the immunisation schedule.
For this group, it is recommended that the following children/youth have a
further “booster” dose of Meningitec® in 2012 (if they didn’t have one in
2011):



Those who only received meningococcal C immunisation before their
1st birthday
Those who received a meningococcal C immunisation between their
1st and 5th birthdays AND it is now 2 or more years since that
dose
Those who received a meningococcal C immunisation after their 5th
birthday AND it is now 5 or more years since that dose.
This is because you need circulating antibodies for protection from
meningococcal C disease, and the length of protection after immunisation
varies depending on the age of the child when they are immunised. Older
children and adolescents are likely to have at least five years protection.
Younger children are likely to get fewer than five years protection. A booster
will help your body rapidly produce antibodies again.
It is safe to receive a booster immunisation against meningococcal C disease.
ARE THERE OTHER VACCINES AVAILABLE IN NEW ZEALAND
AGAINST MENINGOCOCCAL DISEASE?
There is another type of vaccine that protects against meningococcal disease
(groups A, C, Y and W135 only) currently available in New Zealand – called a
polysaccharide vaccine. It provides protection for about three years but is not
effective in young children. This vaccine is currently recommended for some
groups, for example students living in hostel accommodation, who may be at
higher risk of this disease, or travellers to certain areas, but it is not publicly
funded for most New Zealanders. Meningococcal vaccine is available free in
some situations, such as for people without spleens.
You can also get more information about meningococcal C immunisation by
calling the free Immunisation Advisory Centre helpline 0800 IMMUNE (0800
466 863).