MenB (Bexsero) Vaccine Updates

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• WEBINAR: MenB (Bexsero) vaccine
• Meningococcal B (Bexsero) rollout 
• MenB Bexsero vaccine hot topics
• MenB Bexsero resources page

WEBINAR: MenB (Bexsero) vaccine

Meningococcal B (Bexsero) rollout 

From 1 March 2023 the Meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero) will be funded for: 
Scheduled programme: No end date
•Children aged up to 12 months.
•Administered as part of the Childhood Immunisation Programme at three months, five months, and a booster dose at 12 months.
•Can be offered at age eight weeks with the second dose at four months.
•Do not delay the six-week immunisations.

Scheduled programme: No end date
•People aged 13-25 in their first year of specified close living situations.
•Two doses funded.

Catch-up programme: Ends 31 August 2025
• Children aged 13 months to 59 months.
• Up to three doses funded, depending on the age of the child when they have their first dose.
Catch-up programme: Ends 28 February 2024
• All people aged 13-25 in specified close living situations.
• Two doses funded.

DEFINITIONS
Close living: Close living is defined in the pharmaceutical schedule as individuals who are currently living in or entering their first year of boarding school hostels, tertiary education halls of residence, military barracks, or prisons.
Catch-up programme age criteria: 
As for all vaccines with an upper age limit – if the course is started before that age limit, then the funded course can be completed. For example, if a child has their first dose of Bexsero before their fifth birthday then they are eligible for the full course.

FUNDING
Scheduled programmes:
All claims will be submitted as normal and will be accepted for any or all of the scheduled events.
Catch-up programme:
• Vaccinators are encouraged to offer catch up doses opportunistically to the eligible groups and claims for these will be accepted.
• We will work with Te Whatu Ora districts to understand planning and delivery models and determine resourcing requirements for catch-up programmes.

VACCINE ORDERING
• Orders can be placed now through ProPharma.
• There are no issues with supply.
• Bexsero will arrive in single dose packs. Be mindful of the additional fridge space required and also influenza vaccine requirements.

RECORDING & MONITORING
PMS: 
• To enable Bexsero recording in your practice management system (PMS) from 1 March - you will need to enter this in the same way as for the current high-risk schedule for Meningococcal B.
• Your PMS vendor will provide further guidance on how to do this.
• The Programme is working with all PMS vendors to enable a full update of all schedules in the coming months – this is due to the large number of recent system updates required, including for PCV13 and Shingrix.
NIR:
• No changes are able to made to the National Immunisation Register (NIR). The NIR can accept MenB vaccine but the schedules within NIR cannot be updated.
• This means consumer records will be updated but won’t be attached as part of the immunisation schedule. 
AIR:
There is no change for process providers need to follow when entering directly into the Aotearoa Immunisation Register (AIR) as MenB vaccine is enabled in AIR.
Recalls:
Once the full PMS update is completed, Men B vaccine will be included in recall messaging.
Reporting:
• Childhood milestone reporting will not include MenB at this time, which is is standard practice when new vaccines are introduced. 
• The National Immunisation Programme is working with the districts on interim operational reporting options.


RESOURCES
Childhood:
• Updated childhood resources for providers and whānau will be available through HealthEd from 1 March.
• The National Immunisation Programme is finalising a new childhood immunisation website aimed at consumers. It will be available in March
• The IMAC website includes further Bexsero guidance including administration of paracetamol.
Close-living:
Updated resources focused on young people who meet the close-living criteria will be available from 1 March through the programme dropbox.
Immunisation Handbook:
• The Immunisation Handbook will be updated to provide the best available clinical advice and recommendations. 
• Just a reminder the Handbook is no longer available as a printed version, and only the online version should be used.
Schedule Card:
The dose schedule chart (HE1308) that is commonly kept on the front of your vaccine fridge has been updated to include Bexsero and will sent out with vaccine deliveries.

If you have any questions about this update, please email Immunisation@health.govt.nz  

MenB Bexsero vaccine hot topics

• Don't forget to check the expiry dates on Bexsero if it's been in the fridge a while.
• Bexsero vaccine can be entered into the PMS and claimed from 1 March (today). This will be slightly different for each PMS type and will be communicated to PMS users by PMS vendors.
• The administration fee for Bexsero will be paid if it is administered with other scheduled vaccines or if it is administered on its own at 8 weeks and 4 months.
• Opportunistic catch-up Bexsero vaccine administered to the eligible groups anytime from 1 March will be funded.
• Resources and guidance are on our MenB Bexsero resources page

MenB Bexsero resources page

Resources and guidance are on our MenB Bexsero resources page