KidsHealth video. Immunise your child. Protect them from meningococcal disease.
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Meningococcal disease is very dangerous. It makes pēpi and tamariki very sick very quickly, and it can kill.
Meningococcal infection can cause meningitis - an infection of the lining of the brain and septicaemia - a life-threatening infection in the blood.
Meningococcal disease can be difficult to diagnose. Early symptoms are similar to viral infections like the flu.
Tamariki can be dangerously ill by the time they are diagnosed.
There are different types of meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal B disease has caused a lot of disease in Aotearoa and resulted in many deaths in pēpi and tamariki.
Protect pēpi with meningococcal immunisation. This is life-saving.
Pēpi can have this at 3, 5 and 12 months with their other immunisations.
Or, pēpi can get even earlier protection and have their meningococcal immunisation at 2, 4 and 12 months.
Earlier protection is very important for Māori and Pasifika pēpi who have higher rates of meningococcal disease.
You can have meningococcal B immunnisation at GP practices and Māori and Pacific immunisation providers.
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
- 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 to prevent meningococcal B disease
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
The MenB (Bexsero) vaccine can cause quite high fevers - particularly in pēpi under 2 years. Giving your baby paracetamol reduces the chance of them developing a high fever. See the following instructions.
Give 3 doses to your baby
Check the label carefully before giving paracetamol to your baby under 2 years. Make sure it's 120mg/5mLs (not 250mg/5mls).
Dose 1 - given with or just after the vaccine, or up to 30 minutes before.
Dose 2 - give this 6 hours after the dose 1.
Dose 3 - give this 6 hours after the dose 2.
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 6 hours since the last dose.
The amount of paracetamol needed for each dose is based on your child's weight, so it changes as they grow. The vaccinator may need to check your baby's weight at each visit.
If you are using paracetamol that you already have at home, check the label on the bottle carefully. Make sure you are using the right strength for your child and that it has NOT expired. For babies, the label MUST be 120mg/5mLs (not 250mg/5mls). If you are not sure or unable to read the label don't use the medicine. Talk to your vaccinator.
See a leaflet about paracetamol and meningococcal immunisation (Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora).
Safe Use Of Paracetamol In Children
Pamphlets about protecting against meningococcal disease
Immunisations and timings
Check when pēpi and tamariki can have their MenB and other immunisations.
