Meningococcal disease refers to any illness that is caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called “serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most meningococcal disease. These bacteria live in the back of the nose and the throat without being ill, sometimes the bacteria invade the body and cause certain illnesses, which are known as meningococcal disease and are spread from person to person by sharing respiratory secretions.

Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, amputations or nervous system problems.
Anyone can get meningococcal disease but certain people are at increased risk, including:

• Infants younger than one year old.
• Adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years old.
• People with certain medical conditions that affect the immune system.
• Microbiologists who routinely work with isolates of N. meningitidis.
• People at risk because of an outbreak in their community.

 

Meningococcal Vaccines

Currently, two types of vaccines against meningococcal disease are available in Thailand:

1. MenACWY Vaccine

This vaccine protects against meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

• Administered from 1 year of age onward.
• Given as an intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL, one dose*.

*For high‑risk groups, 2 doses are recommended, administered 8 weeks apart. For students planning to study abroad, 2 doses are recommended: the first at 11–12 years of age and the second at 16–18 years of age.

2. MenB Vaccine

This vaccine protects against meningococcal serogroup B .

• In general, it is recommended for individuals aged 10 years and older**.
• Given as an intramuscular injection of 0.5 mL, 2 doses

**For young children, it is recommended to consult a physician to assess individual risk and provide appropriate vaccination guidance. (The vaccine is approved for use in infants as young as 2 months of age.)
Please consult a physician for appropriate individualized vaccination recommendations.

Who should get meningococcal vaccine?

In Thailand, meningococcal disease is not a common disease, the incidence was less than 0.1 case per million. The meningococcal vaccine is recommended to certain groups which are at increased risk for meningococcal disease, including the following: travelers to countries where meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic, people who participate in the Hajj pilgrimage, United States college students and some European countries, and high risk groups i.e. persons with anatomic or functional asplenia, persons with persistent complement component deficiencies, persons living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, teens living in dorms or boarding school, military recruits, microbiologists routinely exposed to N. meningitidis.
 

Who should not get meningococcal vaccine or should wait?

• People who have ever had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of meningococcal vaccine or any vaccine component should not get another dose of either vaccine.
• Anyone who is moderately or severely ill at the time that the shot is scheduled should probably wait until they recover. Ask your doctor. On the other hand, people with a mild illness can usually get the vaccine.
• Not much is known about the risks of this vaccine to a pregnant woman or breastfeeding mother. However, pregnancy or breastfeeding are not reasons to avoid meningococcal ACWY vaccination. A pregnant or breastfeeding woman should be vaccinated if she is at increased risk of meningococcal disease.

 

What are the risks from meningococcal vaccines?

 

Very common side effects

Headache, muscle pain, tiredness Symptoms such as redness or soreness where the shot was given had been reported. If these problems occur, they usually last for 1 or 2 days.

Rare side effects

Sometimes people faint after a vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after vaccination can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Some people get severe pain at the injection site and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given; this happens very rarely. If you see signs of a severe allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, or weakness), seek immediate medical attention.

 

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/hcp/vaccine-recommendations/index.html  [Accessed 18 Mar 2026].
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meningococcal Vaccination. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/meningococcal/vaccines/index.html [Accessed 18 Mar 2026].
• Mbaeyi SA, Bozio CH, Duffy J, Rubin LG, Hariri S, Stephens DS, MacNeil JR. Meningococcal Vaccination: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, United States, 2020. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2020 Sep 25;69(9):1-41. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr6909a1. PMID: 33417592; PMCID: PMC7527029.
• Thisyakorn U, Carlos J, Chotpitayasunondh T, Dien TM, Gonzales MLAM, Huong NTL, et al. Invasive meningococcal disease in Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam: An Asia-Pacific expert group perspective on current epidemiology and vaccination policies. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics, 2022;18(6).
• คลินิกเวชศาสตร์ท่องเที่ยวและการเดินทาง. เรื่องน่ารู้เกี่ยวกับวัคซีนไข้กาฬหลังแอ่น (Meningococcal vaccine). เข้าถึงได้จาก: https://www.thaitravelclinic.com/blog/th/travel-medicine-issue/thai-meningococcal-vaccine.html [Accessed 18 Mar 2026].
• GlaxoSmithKline. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION BEXSERO (Meningococcal Group B Vaccine). Available from: https://www.fda.gov/media/90996/download?attachment  [Accessed 18 Mar 2026].
• สมาคมโรคติดเชื้อในเด็กแห่งประเทศไทย. คำแนะนำการให้วัคซีนไข้กาฬหลังแอ่นในเด็กและวัยรุ่นไทย. เข้าถึงได้จาก: https://pidst.or.th/A1527.html [Accessed 19 Mar 2026].