Currently, there are 6 meningococcal vaccines licensed and available in the United States. Learn about the composition, types, immunogenicity, and effectiveness of these vaccines, as well as view package inserts, below.
Types and Composition of Meningococcal Vaccines
There are 3 types of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States. Meningococcal vaccines also vary by the number of serogroups they provide protection against.
- Three conjugate vaccines are quadrivalent (4 serogroups: A, C, W, and Y).
- Two recombinant protein vaccines are monovalent (1 serogroup: B).
- One conjugate and recombinant protein vaccine is pentavalent (5 serogroups: A, B, C, W, and Y).
Meningococcal Conjugate or MenACWY Vaccines
Sanofi Pasteur formulates each 0.5-milliliter (mL) dose of MenQuadfi® in sodium phosphate buffered isotonic sodium chloride solution. Each dose contains 10 micrograms (µg) each of meningococcal A, C, W, and Y polysaccharides conjugated to approximately 55 µg of tetanus toxoid protein carrier. It does not contain a preservative or an adjuvant. The manufacturer supplies it as a liquid in a single-dose vial.
GlaxoSmithKline formulates each 0.5-mL dose of Menveo® in a one- or two-vial presentation.
The Menveo® two-vial presentation consists of 2 components:
- 10 µg of lyophilized meningococcal serogroup A (MenA) capsular polysaccharide conjugated to CRM197
- 5 μg each of capsular polysaccharide of serogroup C, W, and Y (MenCWY) conjugated to CRM197 in 0.5 mL of phosphate buffered saline
Vaccine providers reconstitute the lyophilized MenA component with the MenCWY liquid component before injection. It does not contain a preservative or an adjuvant. It is licensed for use in individuals ages 2 months through 55 years.
The Menveo® one-vial presentation
- Contains the same active ingredients as the two-vial presentation
- Does not have any adjuvants or preservatives
- Does not require reconstitution before use
- Is licensed for use in individuals ages 10 years through 55 years
Sanofi Pasteur formulates each 0.5-milliliter (mL) dose of MenQuadfi® to contain 10 µg each of meningococcal A, C, W, and Y polysaccharides conjugated to approximately 55 µg of tetanus toxoid protein carrier. It does not contain a preservative or an adjuvant. The manufacturer supplies it as a liquid in a single-dose vial.
Serogroup B Meningococcal or MenB Vaccines
GlaxoSmithKline formulates each 0.5-mL dose of Bexsero® to contain:
- 50 µg each of recombinant proteins Neisserial adhesin A (NadA), Neisserial Heparin Binding Antigen (NHBA), and factor H binding protein (fHbp)
- 25 µg of Outer Membrane Vesicles (OMV)
- 1.5 milligrams (mg) aluminum hydroxide (0.519 mg of Al3+)
- 125 mg sodium chloride
- 776 mg histidine
- 10 mg sucrose at pH 6.4 – 6.7
Each dose contains less than 0.01 µg kanamycin (by calculation).
Pfizer formulates each 0.5-mL dose of Trumenba® to contain:
- 60 µg each of 2 lipidated fHBP variants (total of 120 µg of protein)
- 0.018 mg of polysorbate 80
- 0.25 mg of Al³+
- 10 millimolar (mM) histidine buffered saline at pH 6.0
Pentavalent or MenABCWY Vaccine
Pfizer formulates each 0.5-mL dose of PenbrayaTM to contain 2 sterile components:
- A lyophilized MenACWY component
- A MenB component ( Trumenba®)
The MenACWY component contains 5 µg each (20 µg total) of meningococcal A, C, W, and Y polysaccharides. They are conjugated to 44 µg of tetanus toxoid. The MenB component contains 60 µg each (120 µg total) of 2 recombinant lipidated fHBP variants.
Each dose also contains:
- 0.78 mg of L-histidine
- 0.097 mg of trometamol
- 28 mg of sucrose
- 0.25 mg of Al3+
- 4.65 mg of sodium chloride
- 0.018 mg of polysorbate 80 at pH 6.0
Vaccine providers reconstitute the lyophilized MenACWY component with the MenB component before injection.