ABOUT BEXSERO
What is BEXSERO?
BEXSERO is a vaccine to help protect against meningococcal group B, the most common cause of meningococcal disease in NZ.3,6
Other vaccines are available to help protect against meningococcal groups A,C, W and Y. There is no single vaccine which covers all the different groups.5
Some people would have received the MeNZB vaccine between 2004 and 2008. The MeNZB vaccine was temporarily introduced in NZ to control an epidemic of meningococcal B. The protection from this vaccine was not long-lasting, so even if your child received this vaccine, they are not expected to be protected against meningococcal B disease.5
about meningococcal disease
What to expect
BEXSERO is given as an injection, usually into your or your child’s arm or leg muscle.3,14
In babies and toddlers, the most common adverse reactions observed in clinical trials were tenderness, redness at the injection site, fever and irritability.3 Fever can be expected after any vaccination, but is more common with BEXSERO, particularly when BEXSERO is administered at the same time as other vaccines. The Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC) recommend the use of paracetamol with every dose of BEXSERO administered to children <2 years of age, regardless of the presence of fever.5,13
Before you or your child receives vaccination, ask your doctor or nurse about the risks of fever and how to treat it, including what to do if fever does not respond to initial treatment.14
In adolescents and adults, the most common adverse reactions were pain at the injection site, generally feeling unwell and headache.3
Dosing Schedule
BEXSERO offers a flexible vaccination schedule for babies, adolescents and adults.3
The number of doses needed depends on the age of the person being vaccinated.3
Talk to your doctor or nurse for further information.
Funding
From 1 March 2023, BEXSERO is funded on the National Immunisation Schedule. Ask your doctor or nurse if your child is eligible for funded BEXSERO. If your child is not eligible, BEXSERO is available for private purchase.
BEXSERO is funded for the following groups:4
Children up to 12 months of age
BEXSERO is part of the National Immunisation Schedule, meaning that all children up to 12 months of age (inclusive) are funded to receive three doses of BEXSERO. Funding is also available for children under 5 years of age as part of a catch-up programme, from 1 March 2023 to 31 August 2025.
Teens and young adults 13 to 25 years
Two doses of BEXSERO are funded for people aged 13 to 25 years (inclusive) who are in their first year of specified close-living situations, including boarding school hostels and tertiary education halls of residence. A catch-up programme with two doses is also funded for people who are already in close-living, from 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2024.
