Bexsero Special Precautions

As with other vaccines, administration of Bexsero should be postponed in subjects suffering from an acute severe febrile illness. However, the presence of a minor infection, such as cold, should not result in the deferral of vaccination.
Do not inject intravascularly.
As with all injectable vaccines, appropriate medical treatment and supervision should always be readily available in case of an anaphylactic event following the administration of the vaccine.
Anxiety-related reactions, including vasovagal reactions (syncope), hyperventilation or stress-related reactions may occur in association with vaccination as a psychogenic response to the needle injection (see Adverse Reactions). It is important that procedures are in place to avoid injury from fainting.
This vaccine should not be given to individuals with thrombocytopenia or any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injection, unless the potential benefit clearly outweighs the risk of administration.
As with any vaccine, vaccination with Bexsero may not protect all vaccine recipients.
Bexsero is not expected to provide protection against all circulating meningococcal group B strains (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
As with many vaccines, healthcare professionals should be aware that a temperature elevation may occur following vaccination of infants and children (less than 2 years of age). Prophylactic administration of antipyretics at the time and closely after vaccination can reduce the incidence and intensity of post-vaccination febrile reactions. Antipyretic medication should be initiated according to local guidelines in infants and children (less than 2 years of age).
Individuals with impaired immune responsiveness, whether due to the use of immune-suppressive therapy, a genetic disorder, or other causes, may have reduced antibody response to active immunisation.
Immunogenicity data are available in individuals with complement deficiencies, asplenia, or splenic dysfunctions (see Pharmacology: Pharmacodynamics under Actions).
Individuals with familial complement deficiencies (for example, C3 or C5 deficiencies) and individuals receiving treatments that inhibit terminal complement activation (for example, eculizumab) are at increased risk for invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis group B, even if they develop antibodies following vaccination with Bexsero.
There are no data on the use of Bexsero in subjects above 50 years of age and limited data in patients with chronic medical conditions.
The potential risk of apnoea and the need for respiratory monitoring for 48-72 hours should be considered when administering the primary immunisation series to very premature infants (born ≤ 28 weeks of gestation) and particularly for those with a previous history of respiratory immaturity. As the benefit of vaccination is high in this group of infants, vaccination should not be withheld or delayed.
The tip cap of the syringe may contain natural rubber latex. Although the risk for developing allergic reactions is very small, healthcare professionals should consider the benefit-risk prior to administering this vaccine to subjects with known history of hypersensitivity to latex.
Kanamycin is used in early manufacturing process and is removed during the later stages of manufacture. If present, kanamycin levels in the final vaccine are less than 0.01 micrograms per dose. The safe use of Bexsero in kanamycin-sensitive individuals has not been established.
This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per dose, i.e. essentially 'sodium-free'.
Traceability: In order to improve the traceability of biological medicinal products, the name and the batch number of the administered product should be clearly recorded.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines: Bexsero has no or negligible influence on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some of the effects mentioned under Adverse Reactions may temporarily affect the ability to drive or use machines.