Meningococcal Group B Vaccine, Injection

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is given by injection to protect against meningitis caused by a certain type of bacteria.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: vaccine

Generic and brand names: meningitis group B vaccine, injection; Meningococcal Group B vaccine; Bexsero; Trumenba

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to provide protection against meningitis (meningococcal infection) caused by a certain type of bacteria. It is approved to be given to people from 10 to 25 years of age.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine or to latex
• A bleeding disorder
• A weakened immune system from cancer treatment, diseases such as HIV/AIDS, or from taking steroid medicines or medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection

If you are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, wait until you recover before getting this vaccine. If you have a mild cold or other mild infection, you may still be able to get your shot. Tell your healthcare provider if you currently have an infection of any kind.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Do not breast-feed while receiving this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by a healthcare provider as a series of shots. You must complete the entire series so that you will be fully protected. Talk with your healthcare provider about how many doses you need, when you should get them. Keep all appointments for shots.

If you miss an appointment for a shot, contact your healthcare provider right away to reschedule the appointment.

What should I watch out for?

Most people who get this vaccine do not have any problems with it. You may have redness or soreness where the shot was given. These side effects usually last 1 or 2 days. Contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms last longer or if you feel worse.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you have received this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fever, chills, sudden and severe tiredness or weakness; severe dizziness or fainting; fast heartbeat.

Other: Tenderness, pain, redness, or a lump on your skin where the shot was given; muscle or joint pain; headache; nausea.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Cancer medicines such as cisplatin, doxorubicin (Doxil), hydroxyurea (Droxia, Hydrea), vinblastine, and vincristine (Marqibo)
• Corticosteroids such as betamethasone, cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone, hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), prednisolone (Omnipred, Orapred, Prelone), prednisone (Prednisone Intensol), and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), mycophenolate (CellCept, Myfortic), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Astagraf, Prograf, Protopic)
• Medicines to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other immune disorders such as adalimumab (Humira), anakinra (Kineret), belimumab (Benlysta), certolizumab (Cimzia), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), infliximab (Remicade), leflunomide (Arava), tocilizumab (Actemra), tofacitinib (Xeljanz), and ustekinumab (Stelara)
• Methotrexate (Otrexup, Rasuvo, Rheumatrex, Trexall)
• Multiple sclerosis medicines such as fingolimod (Gilenya), glatiramer (Copaxone), natalizumab (Tysabri), and teriflunomide (Aubagio)
• Other vaccines
• Radiation therapy

Keep a record of all vaccines received and when you received them.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.