Bexsero is a brand-name intramuscular injection. Doctors prescribe it to help prevent meningitis B. Bexsero belongs to the vaccine drug class.

Bexsero is FDA-approved to help prevent meningitis B. Doctors prescribe it for children and adults ages 10 through 25 years.

Drug details

You’ll find key information about Bexsero below.

  • Drug form: liquid suspension given as an intramuscular injection
  • Live vaccine? no
  • Generic or biosimilar available? no
  • Prescription required? yes
  • Controlled substance? no
  • Year of FDA approval: 2015

Bexsero is only available as a brand-name medication. It’s a biologic drug made from proteins that are similar to a group of bacteria that causes meningitis B. It’s not currently available in a biosimilar form.

Medications made from chemicals can have generic forms. A generic drug is an exact copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. Biologic drugs cannot be copied exactly because they are not made from chemicals. Instead of generics, biologics have biosimilars.

The following information describes the vaccine schedule that is commonly used or recommended. However, always follow the schedule your doctor recommends for you. Your doctor will determine the best schedule to fit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Bexsero comes as a 0.5-milliliter (mL) injectable suspension in a prefilled syringe. A healthcare professional will give it to you as an intramuscular injection. You will receive Bexsero injections at a doctor’s office or pharmacy.

Dosage for prevention of meningitis B

Doctors prescribe Bexsero to help prevent meningitis B in adults up to age 25 years. You will receive it as a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle in your upper arm.

Doctors and other healthcare professionals recommend you receive two doses of Bexsero. You can have the second dose at least one month after the first dose.

Children’s dosage

Doctors prescribe Bexsero to help prevent meningitis B in children ages 10 years and older. A healthcare professional will administer a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle in your child’s upper arm.

It’s recommended that children receive two doses of Bexsero. They can have the second dose at least one month after the first dose.

About taking Bexsero

Below you will find information about key dosage issues.

  • When to take. If you are 10 to 25 years of age, talk with your doctor about getting the Bexsero vaccine. They can help you decide if the vaccine is right for you and will recommend the best time to have it.
  • If you miss a dose. Doctors and other healthcare professionals recommend you have two doses of Bexsero. If you miss a dose of the Bexero vaccine, schedule an appointment to get it as soon as possible. To avoid missing your second dose, you can sign up for reminders on the vaccine manufacturer’s website.

Bexsero can cause mild or serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur with the Bexsero vaccine. These lists do not include all possible side effects.

For more information about the possible side effects of Bexsero, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may concern or bother you.

Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks side effects of drugs it has approved. If you would like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Bexsero, you can do so through MedWatch.

Mild side effects

Below is a partial list of mild side effects of Bexsero. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist or view Bexsero’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Bexsero can include:

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or do not go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* For more information about allergic reaction and Bexsero, see “Allergic reaction” below.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Bexsero are not common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects of Bexsero may include severe allergic reaction. For details about this side effect, see “Allergic reaction” below.

ALLERGIC REACTION

As with most vaccines, some people can have an allergic reaction after taking Bexsero. People receiving this vaccine in clinical trials did not report this side effect, but it has occurred since it was approved.

Symptoms of a mild allergic reaction can include:

A more severe allergic reaction is rare but possible. Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction can include:

  • swelling under your skin, typically in your eyelids, lips, hands, or feet
  • swelling of your tongue, mouth, or throat
  • trouble breathing

Call your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction to Bexsero, as the reaction could become severe. Call 911 or your local emergency number if your symptoms feel life threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Other meningitis vaccines are available to help prevent this condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you are interested in finding an alternative to Bexsero, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other vaccines that are suitable for you.

Like Bexsero, Trumenba is another vaccine to help prevent meningitis B. Vaccines for preventing other types of meningitis include Menveo, Menactra, and others.

As with all medications, the cost of Bexsero can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Drug coupons: You can visit Optum Perks* for price estimates of Bexsero. These estimates are based on the use of Optum Perks coupons. Note: You cannot use Optum Perks coupons with any insurance copays or benefits.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Bexsero, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

To learn more about saving money on prescriptions, check out this article.

Biosimilar version: Bexsero is not available in a biosimilar form. It’s a brand-name biologic drug made from proteins that are similar to a group of bacteria that cause meningitis B.

* Optum Perks is a sister site of Medical News Today.

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Bexsero.

Can Bexsero be used for gonorrhea?

Possibly in the future. Bexsero is only approved to help prevent meningitis B. However, ongoing clinical trials are studying whether Bexsero may prevent gonorrhea.

To learn more about Bexsero and gonorrhea, talk with your doctor.

How does Bexsero work? How long does the vaccine last?

Bexsero is a vaccine that helps prevent meningitis B. It’s made from proteins that are similar to a group of bacteria that cause meningitis B. Bexsero works by teaching your immune system to produce specific antibodies that target and kill these bacteria if you are exposed to them.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Bexsero may protect against meningitis B for up to 2 years after injection. For this reason, doctors typically recommend receiving Bexsero around the time you are at the highest risk for meningitis B.

For example, the risk of getting meningitis B may be higher when living in close quarters with other people, such as on a college campus.

Doctors may recommend booster doses of this vaccine for people with certain risk factors. Your doctor can tell you more about this.

If you have questions about how Bexsero works or how long it lasts, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Does Bexsero cause long-term side effects?

It’s not likely. People receiving Bexsero in clinical trials of Bexsero did not report long-term side effects. Most of the vaccine’s side effects last a few hours or days. They will likely go away soon after you receive a Bexsero injection.

If you have questions about Bexsero and long-term side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Bexsero to treat certain conditions.

Bexsero for prevention of meningitis B

Bexsero is FDA-approved to help prevent meningitis B in children and adults ages 10 to 25 years.

Meningitis B is a bacterial infection that affects the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms may include fever, headache, neck stiffness, and confusion. This infection is rare but can lead to brain damage or even death.

To learn more about meningitis B, talk with your doctor.

Bexsero and children

Doctors prescribe Bexsero to help prevent meningitis B in children ages 10 years and older.

To learn more about this condition, see “Bexsero for prevention of meningitis B” in the “Bexsero dosage” section above. You can also talk with your child’s doctor.

Bexsero is not known to interact with other vaccines. When you receive Bexsero, you may safely have other vaccines during the same visit. Your healthcare professional will use a different injection site for each vaccine.

Bexsero is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer of Bexsero did not look at interactions in clinical trials of the vaccine.

However, this doesn’t mean that interactions won’t be recognized in the future. For example, new drugs could be approved that interact with Bexsero.

Before receiving the Bexsero vaccine, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol interaction

Alcohol is not known to interact with Bexsero. It is likely safe to consume alcohol before or after the Bexsero vaccine. If you have questions about how much alcohol is safe to drink before or after a Bexsero injection, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Bexsero and pregnancy

It is unknown whether it is safe to have a Bexsero injection during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before having this vaccine.

Bexsero and breastfeeding

It is unknown whether you should receive a Bexsero injection while breastfeeding. If you are currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before receiving this vaccine.

This vaccine comes with several precautions.

Before receiving a Bexsero injection, discuss your health history with your doctor. Bexsero may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Bexsero, see the “Bexsero side effects” section above.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.