NYSDOH Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for HIV-Infected Individuals and Those at High Risk of HIV Infection
October 25, 2016 | View the 10/25/16 NYS Health Advisory
On June 22, 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend that persons aged ≥2 months with HIV infection should receive meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine, either MenACWY-D (Menactra®), MenACWY-CRM (Menveo®) or, as age-appropriate, Hib-MenCY-TT (MenHibrix®, recommended for ages 2-18 months).
This recommendation was made based on epidemiologic data demonstrating an increased risk of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to serogroups C, W, and Y among HIV-infected persons in the United States. HIV-infected individuals have suppressed immune responses to MenACWY vaccine, as well as waning of vaccine-induced immunity. For this reason, a multidose primary series and regular booster doses are necessary to maintain protection against IMD. HIV-infected persons have not been demonstrated to be at increased risk of serogroup B disease, and use of serogroup B (MenB) vaccine has not been studied in this group; for this reason MenB vaccine is not recommended for HIV-infected persons unless they have another indication for this vaccine.
In response to the ACIP recommendations, the NYSDOH advises healthcare providers to administer MenACWY vaccine to:
- All HIV-infected children and adults aged 2 months or older, and
- HIV-negative individuals at ongoing high risk for HIV infection, to include:
- Men who have sex with men (MSM) who are candidates for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as described in the NYSDOH AIDS Institute “Guidance for the Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to Prevent HIV Transmission” and
- Transgender individuals who are candidates for PrEP.
Read the full NYS Health Advisory, which includes additional information regarding dosing and vaccine cost reimbursement.
Previous IMD-Related Health Advisories and Alerts
- June 30, 2015: NYS Informational Message: Informational Message: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- June 12, 2015: NYC 2015 Health Alert #11: UPDATE: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex with Men
- September 5, 2014: NYC 2014 Health Alert #28: Update on Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- July 18, 2014: NYC 2014 Health Alert #15: Update on Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- August 14, 2013: NYC 2013 Health Alert #31: Update on Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- March 21, 2013: NYS 2013 Health Advisory Update #1: Expanded Outbreak Response Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for Men Who Have Sex With Men
- March 6, 2013: NYC 2013 Health Alert #5: UPDATE: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men, Expanded Vaccine Recommendations
- November 29, 2012: NYC 2012 Health Alert #36: UPDATE: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- October 22, 2012: NYC 2012 Health Alert #30: UPDATE: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
- October 4, 2012: NYS 2012 Health Advisory/NYC 2012 Health Alert #28: UPDATE: Meningococcal Vaccine Recommendations for HIV-Infected Men Who Have Sex With Men
- September 27, 2012: NYC 2012 Health Alert #27: Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Men Who Have Sex With Men
More Information
- Health Department Clinic Locations
- If you think you might be at risk, please read the patient fact sheet
- March 22, 2013: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2013;62(RR-2):1-22.
- January 4, 2013: Notes from the Field: Serogroup C Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among Men Who Have Sex With Men — New York City, 2010–2012, Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2013;61(51);1048.