Menveo (Men-ACYW)

Meningococcal disease is a bacterial infection that can affect the spinal cord and brain, leading to meningitis. This condition can be fatal or result in permanent and disabling health issues.

Meningococcal disease can be transmitted from one person to another through tiny droplets of saliva that are released into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The bacteria are typically spread through close contact with an infected person, especially by kissing or sharing a drinking glass or eating utensil.

Menveo (Men-ACYW) is used to prevent infection from serogroups A, C, W, and Y. This vaccine helps your body build immunity to meningitis, but it will not treat an existing infection.

The Menactra brand of this vaccine is for children and adults aged 9 months to 55 years old. Menveo is for children and adults aged 2 months to 55 years old. MenQuadfi is for adults and children 6 weeks of age and older.

Like any vaccine, Menveo (Men-ACYW) may not protect every person from disease.

You should not receive this vaccine if you had a severe allergic reaction after a previous dose of this vaccine or to any of its ingredients.

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to Menveo (Men-ACYW) or any ingredient in the vaccine.

Tell your vaccination provider if you have or have ever had:

• a severe illness with a fever or any recent infection;
• a weak immune system (caused by disease or by using certain medicine, or by chemotherapy or radiation); or
• Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Tell your doctor or vaccine provider if your child was born prematurely before your child receives this vaccine.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the effects of meningococcal conjugate vaccine on the baby.

It is not known whether Menveo (Men-ACYW) will harm an unborn baby. However, if you are at a high risk for infection with meningococcal during pregnancy, your doctor should determine whether you need this vaccine.

Ask a doctor if it is safe to breastfeed while using Menveo (Men-ACYW).

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Keep track of all side effects you experience. If you need a booster dose, you must inform the vaccination provider if the previous shot caused any side effects.

Becoming infected with meningococcal disease and developing meningitis may be more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine to protect against it. Like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects, but the risk of serious side effects is extremely low.

Menveo (Men-ACYW) may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you have:

• fainting or passing out; or
• nervous system problems--numbness, pain, tingling, weakness, burning or prickly feeling, vision or hearing problems, trouble breathing.

Common side effects of Menveo (Men-ACYW) may include:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• changes in appetite;
• redness, pain, swelling, tenderness, or hardening where the shot was given;
• joint or muscle pain;
• headache, drowsiness, tiredness;
• fever, feeling unwell; or
• unusual or persistent crying, irritability in a baby that received the vaccine.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report vaccine side effects to the US Department of Health and Human Services at 1 800 822 7967.

This vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle.

Menveo (Men-ACYW) is given as one or more doses, depending on your condition. You may also need a booster dose if you have a high risk of meningococcal infection.

Your booster schedule may be different. Follow the guidelines provided by your doctor or local health department.

Be sure to receive all recommended doses of this vaccine or you may not be fully protected against disease.

You will be watched for a short time to make sure you do not feel faint after receiving this vaccine.

There are other types of meningococcal vaccine available. When you receive a booster dose, make sure you are receiving a vaccine for meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, or Y and not for serogroup B.

Contact your vaccination provider if you miss a dose or fall behind schedule. You should get the next dose as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.

An overdose of this vaccine is not likely to happen.

Follow your vaccination provider's instructions regarding any limits on food, drinks, or activities.

Before getting this vaccine, let your vaccination provider know about all other vaccines you have had recently, especially diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (like Daptacel).

Also inform the vaccination provider if you have recently taken any drugs or treatments that can weaken your immune system, including:

• steroids;
• medicines for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other autoimmune disorders; or
• medicines for cancer or to prevent organ transplant rejection.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may impact Menveo (Men-ACYW), including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.