Meningococcal B Vaccine (Bexsero)
The disease
The meningococcus bacterium (Neisseria meningitides), sometimes known as the “violent bacterium”, may cause meningitis, which is a lethal contagious disease, blood sepsis and other infections. The symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, stiff neck, vomiting and sometimes a rash. The bacterium is transmitted by secretions from the airways of a sick person or carrier of the bacterium. In some individuals the bacterium may be found in the mouth and pharynx without causing invasive disease. If the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it may cause severe disease that may become life threatening in just a few hours.
Correctly treated, the death rate is 5%-10% of patients. Left untreated, the death rate may reach 50% of patients. Even after recovery, there may be neurological complications that include developmental lag, paralysis, deafness and more.
The bacterium has a number of strains, the most common in Israel being the B strain. The other strains, A, C, Y and W135, are rare in Israel.
The vaccine
The meningococcus B vaccine is safe and effective, and is recommended for infants and toddlers from two months’ age. The vaccine is not included in the routine immunization schedule for babies and children, and is not administered at Family Care Centers. It may be given at the HMO, with a referral from an HMO physician. It is worth checking the possibility of getting the vaccine at a subsidized price through supplementary health insurance or refunds from the HMO.
Vaccination schedule: the number of vaccine doses and vaccination times are age dependent.
The vaccine is administered from two months’ age. Infants who got the first vaccine dose at two months’ age will get another dose at 4 months and a booster at the age of 1 year.
Until the age of one year it is advised to wait 3 days between receiving routine vaccines (at the Family Care Center) and the meningococcus B vaccine (at the HMO), owing to the frequency of onset of fever when the vaccines administered at the same time.
If the vaccines are administered on the same day, each vaccine will be injected into a different area of the body.
| Vaccine composition | Vaccine administration |
|
Recombinant vaccine: consisting only of the minimum parts required of the bacterium to stimulate the immune system to act against the pathogen. |
Until the age of 3 - by injection to the thigh; from the age of 3 - by injection to the arm |
Possible side effects and how to relieve them
A small number of vaccine recipients may experience side effects after vaccination, but usually these are mild and resolve after a day or two:
-
Redness, pain and swelling at the injection site -
Fever -
Weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain
- Redness and pain at the injection site and local swelling: a clean cloth soaked with lukewarm water may be placed on the injection site, avoiding rubbing the site.
- Fever: you can administer an antipyretic (fever reducing) and analgesic (pain relieving) medicine.
- Weakness, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain: you can administer an antipyretic or analgesic medicine.
When to seek medical attention at your HMO or an emergency medical clinic after the vaccination
- If the child appears apathetic.
- If there is fever that does not resolve after 24-48 hours.
- If there are changes in appetite and eating patterns that do not resolve after 24-48 hours.
- If there are seizures (usually related to fever but this is worth examining).
- If there is any other phenomenon that makes you concerned.