INFORMATION FOR WOMEN ABOUT MENINGOCOCCAL VACCINE DURING PREGNANCY OR BREASTFEEDING

Description: What is the meningococcal vaccine?

The meningococcal vaccine is a shot that is administered to train the immune system to recognize and defend against a bacterial species called Neisseria meningitides, often called meningococcus. There are several strains of N. meningitides that cause disease, and there are different types of meningococcal vaccine. In the United States, three types of meningococcal vaccine are available currently. Two of the types –one called the tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4), the other called tetravalent polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4) – each teach the immune system to recognize four strains of N. meningitides, known as the A, C, W, and Y serogroups. The third type of meningococcal vaccine, called MenB vaccine, is for teaching the immune system to recognize another strain of N. meningitides called serogroup B. In some cases, more than one company manufactures a particular type of N. meningitides vaccine.