Meningococcal B Disease Immunisation

Key points about meningococcal immunisation

• meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection - it causes severe illness and can cause death
• pēpi and tamariki with meningococcal disease can get sick very quickly
• there are several different types of meningococcal bacteria including A, B, C, Y and W
• from 1 March 2023, pēpi can get free protection from meningococcal B disease
• pēpi can have this when they have their regular immunisations (at 3, 5 and 12 months)
• even earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi (at 2, 4 and 12 months)

Find out about meningococcal disease

How do you prevent meningococcal B disease?

From 1 March 2023, pēpi and tamariki can get free protection against meningococcal B disease with the MenB (Bexsero) vaccine.

Pēpi up to 12 months

Pēpi can have the MenB vaccine during their normal childhood immunisations - at 3 months, 5 months and 12 months.

Your baby can have the MenB vaccine even earlier - at 2 months, 4 months and 12 months. Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi. This is because they have a higher risk of meningococcal disease. 

Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi.

Tamariki until they turn 5 years old

Tamariki from 13 months up to 59 months will need extra immunisation visits to get their MenB (Bexsero) vaccine doses. These will be free until 31 August 2025.

Some young people aged 13 to 25 years 

Some young people aged 13 to 25 years who are in close-living situations can have the MenB (Bexsero) vaccine free.  

Talk to your GP practice to check if your child can have this free protection

Talk to your GP practice about whether your child or young person can have free protection against meningococcal B disease.

Advice about paracetamol for fever after MenB immunisation

Tamariki are more likely to get a fever or a high fever after MenB (Bexsero) immunisation. For this reason, it's a good idea to give paracetamol to help lower any fever and make your child more comfortable. 

Give 3 doses

Dose 1 - give this 30 minutes before the immunisation (or at the same time as immunisation).
Dose 2 - give this 4 to 6 hours after the first dose.
Dose 3 - give this 4 to 6 hours after the second dose.

If your child is asleep when a dose is due, you don't need to wake them up. You can give the dose when your child wakes. Just make sure it's been at least 4 to 6 hours since the last dose.

Find out about using paracetamol safely - including how to give the right dose

Pamphlet about protecting against meningococcal disease in tamariki under 5 years

See more KidsHealth content on immunisation

Check out KidsHealth's section on immunisation