Vaccination against meningococcal infections: new measures

Extension of compulsory vaccination for infants

From 1^is January 2025, vaccination against meningococcal B infections (previously strongly recommended) and AWY will become compulsory for all infants and will be required for entry into the community.

Vaccination against meningococcus C, already compulsory, is replaced by that against meningococci ACWY.

This evolution of vaccination obligations follows the recommendations from the High Authority for Health (March 2024) and at decree of July 5, 2024 relating to compulsory vaccination against meningococci type B and ACWY. It is included in the 2024 vaccination schedule.

Vaccination tétravalente ACWY : elle will be carried out in infants according to a 2-dose vaccination schedule: one dose at the age of 6 months with the Nimenrix® vaccine, followed by a booster dose at 12 months with the Nimenrix® or Menquadfi® vaccine.

Please note: infants who received a first dose of meningococcal C vaccine before 1^is January 2025 will have to receive their second dose, after this date, with an ACWY meningococcal vaccine (Nimenrix® or Menquadfi® vaccine).

Vaccination against meningococci B: elle will be carried out using the Bexsero® vaccine according to an unchanged 3-dose schedule: 1^era dose at age 3 months, 2^e dose at 5 months, followed by a booster at 12 months.

Addition of a vaccination recommendation for adolescents

The recommendation to vaccinate all adolescents aged 11 to 14 against ACWY meningococcal infections, included in the 2024 vaccination schedule, is now effective.

The recommended vaccination schedule includes one dose of tetravalent vaccine (Nimenrix® or MenQuadfi® or Menveo®), regardless of vaccination status.

As part of catch-up vaccination, tetravalent ACWY vaccination is recommended between 15 and 24 years of age according to a one-dose schedule (Nimenrix® or MenQuadfi® or Menveo® vaccines).

Please note: this recommendation is now integrated into the current vaccination schedulepharmacists are authorized to prescribe and administer ACWY tetravalent meningococcal vaccines to target individuals aged 11 and over.

Resources to (get) informed

To support the implementation of vaccination obligations against AWY and B meningococci, the Ministry of Health offers on its website two questions/answersintended respectively for concerned parents and to healthcare professionals.

The reference site vaccination-info-service.fr also provides up-to-date information on vaccination against meningitis and meningococcal septicemia (spaces “Professionals” et “Grand public“).

For its part, Cespharm offers a downloadable brochure GP on the vaccination of infants against meningococcal infections ACWYB, published by Santé publique France (soon available for order).