Menomune

Menomune is a vaccine is used to prevent meningitis.

Menomune is given as a shot just below the skin of the upper arm. 

Common side effects of Menomune include pain, redness, hardening, and swelling at the injection site. 

Menomune is part of the drug class:

• Meningococcal vaccines

You should not receive this vaccine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to a meningococcal vaccine, or if you are allergic to a preservative called thimerosol.

If you have any of these other conditions, your vaccine may need to be postponed or not given at all:

• any condition that weakens the immune system (such as HIV, AIDS, or cancer);
• if you are receiving steroids, chemotherapy, or radiation treatments; or
• if you are allergic to latex rubber.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of this vaccine on the baby.

It is not known whether meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

This vaccine should not be given to anyone younger than 3 months old.

. Latex

The stoppers to the vials of lyophilized vaccine and diluent contain dry natural latex rubber that may cause allergic reactions in latex sensitive persons.

. Management of Acute Allergic Reactions

Appropriate medical treatment must be available to manage possible anaphylactic reactions following administration of the vaccine.

. Moderate or Severe Acute Illness

To avoid diagnostic confusion between manifestations of an acute illness and possible vaccine adverse effects, vaccination with Menomune – A/C/Y/W-135 vaccine should be postponed in persons with moderate or severe acute illness. (4)

. Limitations of Vaccine Effectivness

Menomune –A/C/Y/W-135 vaccine may not protect all recipients.

. Altered Immunocompetence

Persons who are immunosuppressed, including persons receiving immunosuppressive therapy, may have a diminished immune response to Menomune – A/C/Y/W-135 vaccine [see Drug Interactions(7)].

. Mechanism of Action

The presence of bactericidal anti-capsular meningococcal antibodies has been associated with protection from invasive meningococcal disease. (11) (12) Menomune – A/C/Y/W-135 vaccine induces the production of bactericidal antibodies specific to the capsular polysaccharides of serogroups A, C, Y and W-135.