Patient Information Leaflet on

ACWY Vax® Meningococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine PhEur

This leaflet tells you about meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Please read it carefully. If there is anything you do not understand, or if you want to know more about this vaccine ask your doctor, nurse or pharmacist (chemist).

Please keep this leaflet. You may want to read it again.

What meningococcal vaccine is and what it is used for

The name of your vaccine is ACWY Vax. This vaccine contains purified parts of some of the types of the bacteria (groups A, C, W135 and Y meningococci) that cause serious infections called “meningococcal infections”. These include some types of meningitis. The parts of the bacteria present in the vaccine do not cause infection. Each 0.5 ml dose contains 50 micrograms each of the group A, C, W135 and Y components.

This vaccine also contains inactive ingredients. These are lactose and sodium chloride (the sodium content is 1.77 mg per 0.5 ml dose).

The vaccine is available as one dose vials. It is supplied as a white pellet in a glass vial together with a separate pre-filled syringe of clear, colourless, sterile sodium chloride solution for diluting the vaccine.

When you are given the vaccine your body will make antibodies (your body’s natural defence system). This will protect you against infections caused by group A, C, W135 and Y meningococci.

The vaccine does not protect against meningococcal infections caused by other types of meningococci.

Before having this vaccine

If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions, or are not sure, tell your doctor or nurse. You may not be able to have the vaccine or it may have to be delayed.

If you are the parent of a child who is to be vaccinated you should check that none of the following apply to your child.

• Have you ever had an allergic reaction to any vaccine for meningococcal infections?
• Do you think that you may be allergic to ACWY Vax or any of the ingredients listed above?
• Do you have a fever or an infection?

ACWY Vax is not suitable for everyone. If you answer “Yes” to any of the following questions talk to your doctor or nurse.

• Do you have any illness or are you having any treatment which may affect your immune system (for example are you taking steroid tablets)?
• Are you pregnant or do you think you may be?
• Are you breast feeding?
• Is your child under 2 years of age?

 

 

Having the vaccine

ACWY Vax vaccine (0.5 ml) is injected deep under the skin. The dose of this vaccine is the same for adults and children aged two years and over. If you have previously been given a vaccine against meningococcal A or C infections, you may still be given ACWY Vax to protect you against the other types of meningococcal bacteria in this vaccine.

The vaccine may sometimes be given to children aged 2 months to 2 years when the risk of meningococcal infection is high – for example travel to some areas of the world. ACWY Vax does not give reliable protection against Group C meningococcal infection in children under two years. They should receive a different sort of vaccine for Group C disease if they have not already been vaccinated with such a vaccine. Ask your doctor or nurse if you are not sure about this. However ACWY Vax may provide protection against infection with Groups A, W135 and Y although the protection will not last long. Your doctor should discuss this with you.

Children over 5 years and adults do not need to be revaccinated until about 5 years after the first dose of ACWY Vax. Children under 5 years do not develop such a good immune response. It may be necessary for them to have another dose in 2 – 3 years if the risk of infection suggests that this is necessary.

Possible side effects

Storage of this vaccine

This vaccine should be stored in a refrigerator between 2°C and 8°C. The doctor or nurse should check that the expiry date on the label has not passed.

Once the vaccine has been made up it should be used within one hour.