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Trumenba

A vaccine for
meningitis B
prevention

Your teen may be protected against other forms of meningococcal disease, but vaccines against strain B are not yet part of routine childhood vaccinations.

It is up to you to ask your healthcare professional about TRUMENBA

TRUMENBA is a vaccine to prevent meningitis B (invasive meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B bacteria), for use in people aged 10 through 25 years.

As with any vaccine, TRUMENBA will not protect 100% of those who receive it.

What is invasive meningococcal disease (IMD)?

It is a serious bacterial infection caused by the N. meningitidis bacteria, which can lead to dangerous and sometimes fatal diseases including:

  • meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord), and
  • sepsis (blood poisoning)

Symptoms include:

  • Sudden fever
  • Drowsiness
  • Irritability or agitation
  • Intense headache
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Stiff neck
  • Light sensitivity

Consequences include:

  • Death
  • Coma
  • Long-term health problems (in up to 1 in 3 survivors)
    • · Hearing loss
    • · Neurologic disabilities
    • · Digit or limb amputations

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It can be fatal within 24 hours of first symptoms. Even when the disease is treated early, 5% to 10% of patients die, typically within 24–48 hours after symptoms start.

Who is at risk?

Adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 24 years are one of the age groups most at risk of contracting IMD in Canada.

IMD has historically occurred in:

  • Schools
  • Colleges
  • Camps
  • Other places where there are large groups of teens and young adults

Healthy adolescents and young adults are more likely to carry N. meningitidis bacteria without any symptoms. Carriage rates of this IMD-causing bacteria are one of the highest in young adults.

How often is IMD caused by serogroup B?

There are 5 serogroups of the N. meningitidis bacteria most commonly associated with IMD:
A, C, W135, Y and B.

Serogroup B is the most common cause of IMD in Canadian adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years old (2012–2019).

Serogroups causing IMD in
Canada between 2012 and 2019

How is meningitis B spread?

Like any IMD, meningitis B is spread through common adolescent and young-adult activities

Close, direct contact
Sharing cups,drinks
and utensils
Kissing
Close-quartered living

Up to 10% of people may carry the bacteria that can cause IMD.

What is TRUMENBA?

TRUMENBA is a vaccine to help prevent meningitis B (IMD caused by N. meningitidis serogroup B bacteria), for use in people aged 10 through 25 years.

IMD is a serious and sometimes life-threatening bacterial infection that can result in meningitis and sepsis.

How does it work?

TRUMENBA targets a protein found in over 95% of bacteria that cause meningitis B. It works by helping the body to make antibodies (the body's natural defences), which can help protect you or your child against this disease. These antibodies kill the bacteria that cause meningitis B.

If a vaccinated person comes into contact with the bacteria that cause this disease, their body is usually ready to destroy them.

How is it given?

Your healthcare professional will inject TRUMENBA into your upper arm muscle as a single injection of 0.5 mL, on two or three separate occasions.

Your doctor will choose your dosing schedule according to your or your child's risk of
meningitis B.

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A booster dose may be considered depending on you or your child's risk of invasive meningococcal disease.

A meningitis B vaccine is not part of routine childhood immunization
programs. So it is up to you to ask your healthcare professional about
TRUMENBA to help protect you or your child.

Understanding the different serogroup coverage
of meningococcal meningitis vaccines

Even if you or your child have already been vaccinated against meningococcal meningitis, the vaccines may not have included serogroup B—the most common serogroup.

Not part of the routine immunization program

TRUMENBA Meningococcal B vaccine (Men-B)

55% of all reported IMD cases
(among identified serogroups) in
Canada between 2012 and 2019.

Part of the routine immunization program

Meningococcal Conjugate C
vaccine (Men-C)
 

6% of all reported IMD cases
(among identified serogroups) in
Canada between 2012 and 2019.

Quadrivalent Meningococcal
Conjugate vaccine (Men-ACWY)

(in most provinces)

30% of all reported IMD cases
(among identified serogroups) in
Canada in 2011.

Already vaccinated against
meningococcal meningitis?

Don't forget meningitis B

Ask your healthcare professional about vaccination with TRUMENBA by name,
for 10 to 25-year-olds.

Although it is impossible to prevent people from sharing germs,
VACCINATION is the best way to help prevent meningitis B.

Like all vaccines, TRUMENBA can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. The most common side effects
(reported in more than 1 in 10 people) after having TRUMENBA include headache, nausea, diarrhea, muscle pain, joint
pain, redness, swelling and pain at the injection site, chills and fatigue (tiredness). Other common side effects (in more
than 1 in 100 people) after having TRUMENBA are vomiting and fever ≥38°C. Side effects that have been reported during
marketed use include allergic reactions and fainting. Tell your healthcare professional as soon as possible if you or your
child has a troublesome symptom or side effect not listed here, or one that becomes bad enough to interfere with daily
activities. This is not a complete list of side effects.

For more information, please consult the Product Monograph or by calling 1-800-463-6001.

Find a vaccination clinic offering the
meningococcal B vaccine

Find a vaccination clinic near you