There's a New Vaccine in Town: Penbraya
Author: Ryan Hassan, MD, MPH, Boost Oregon's Medical Director and pediatrician working at Oregon Pediatrics in Happy Valley
This blog post addresses the new combination vaccine for meningococcal disease, Penbraya, and who should consider getting it.
What is meningococcal disease and when are meningococcal vaccines recommended?
Meningococcus is a deadly bacteria that causes serious meningococcal infections, especially among adolescents. Up to 15% of people who contract the disease will die, and up to 20% of those who survive will have permanent complications afterward. Vaccines are available to protect against the 5 strains that cause most meningococcal diseases. Those strains are labeled as A, B, C, W, and Y.
The CDC recommends vaccination against meningococcal strains A, C, W, and Y with 1 dose of the Men ACWY vaccine at age 11 and a booster dose at age 16.
The CDC recommends speaking with a healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of vaccinating against Meningitis type B to determine if two doses of the Men B vaccine starting at age 16 should be given.
What's new with the meningococcal vaccine?
In October, the FDA authorized the use of Pfizer's new combination vaccine, Penbraya, which protects against all 5 strains, ACWY and B, in one vaccine. The CDC has approved Penbraya as an alternative for people who are getting Men ACWY and Men B at the same time. This means that 16-year-olds who are receiving their second dose of Men ACWY and their first dose of Men B can now receive Penbraya to get protection from all 5 strains of the germ, instead of needing two separate shots.
Clinical trials with Penbraya suggest it is as effective as prior Meningococcal vaccines and has similar side effects: injection site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, redness, swelling, joint pain, and chills. No serious or long-term side effects have been found.
I'll be discussing the details of this vaccine and updates on COVID-19 vaccination recommendations during Boost Oregon’s free webinar on December 4, 2023. Register here to attend.
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