Key takeaways

  • Penbraya (meningococcal groups A, B, C, W, and Y vaccine) is a prescription vaccine approved to help prevent certain types of meningitis.
  • The vaccine comes as a liquid suspension that’s injected into a muscle by a healthcare professional.
  • Penbraya is given in two doses. You’ll receive the second dose 6 months after the first dose.

Specifically, Penbraya is used in certain adults and children to help prevent five types of bacterial meningitis (A, B, C, W, and Y).

To learn more about Penbraya’s uses, see the “Uses for Penbraya” section.

Penbraya basics

Penbraya contains proteins similar to those of bacteria that cause meningitis types A, B, C, W, and Y.

Penbraya is a biologic vaccine. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. It’s available only as a brand-name vaccine. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form. Biosimilars are like generic drugs. Just as generic drugs can be an alternative to brand-name medications, biosimilars are an effective alternative to biologics and tend to cost less.

Penbraya is used to help prevent five types of bacterial meningitis (A, B, C, W, and Y). It’s used in people ages 10 to 25 years.

Bacterial meningitis is a serious infection that causes swelling around the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to severe complications, including brain damage and hearing loss. Symptoms may include fever, headache, and stiff neck.

Penbraya works by teaching your immune system to recognize and fight the bacteria that cause meningitis. It helps your body make antibodies (proteins) that target and kill these bacteria if you’re exposed to them.

Like most drugs, Penbraya may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Penbraya may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Penbraya. They can also suggest ways to help reduce or manage them.

Experiencing side effects? If you would like to report a side effect you’ve had with this vaccine, you can do so through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) or by calling 800-822-7967.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Penbraya can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Penbraya’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Penbraya that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Penbraya can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Penbraya, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Penbraya that have been reported include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Penbraya could cause an allergic reaction. But this side effect wasn’t reported in the vaccine’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Penbraya treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Penbraya, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Below is the commonly used vaccine schedule for Penbraya. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Form

Penbraya comes as a liquid suspension (a type of liquid mixture). It’s given as an injection into your muscle by a healthcare professional in a clinic, doctor’s office, or pharmacy.

Recommended dosage

Penbraya is used to help prevent five types of bacterial meningitis (A, B, C, W, and Y) in people ages 10 to 25 years.

For this use, Penbraya is given in two doses. You’ll receive the second dose 6 months after the first dose.

Your doctor will explain how Penbraya will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.

About receiving Penbraya

The following are some common questions about receiving Penbraya.

  • What if I miss a dose of Penbraya? If you miss an appointment to receive an injection of Penbraya, call your pharmacy or doctor’s office to reschedule. It’s important that you receive both doses of the vaccine to get the most protection against bacterial meningitis.
  • Will I need to use Penbraya long term? Penbraya is not a long-term treatment. The vaccine is typically given in two separate doses 6 months apart.
  • How long does Penbraya take to work? Penbraya starts building protection against bacterial meningitis after your first dose. However, it may take several weeks after your final dose for full protection to develop. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more.

Penbraya is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol. The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the vaccine’s prescribing information.

Before receiving Penbraya, 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 use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

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

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Penbraya. What you’ll pay for Penbraya may depend on several things, such as where you receive your injections.

If you have questions about how to pay for your vaccine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The following is important information to consider and discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before receiving the Penbraya vaccine.

Pregnancy and Penbraya

It’s not known whether Penbraya is safe to receive during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before receiving this vaccine.

If you receive Penbraya during pregnancy, your doctor may advise you to enroll in the vaccine’s pregnancy registry. This registry monitors the safety of the vaccine when it’s given during pregnancy.

To learn more about the pregnancy registry, you can talk with your doctor or call 877-390-2953.

Penbraya and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Penbraya should be received while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before receiving this vaccine.

Before receiving Penbraya, discuss your health history with your doctor. Penbraya may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Be sure to tell your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Penbraya, see the “Side effects of Penbraya” section.

Other meningitis vaccines are available. They include:

  • Penmenvy which (like Penbraya) protects against five types of bacterial meningitis (A, B, C, W, and Y)
  • Menactra, Menquadfi, and Menveo, which protect against meningitis types A, C, W, and Y
  • Bexsero and Trumenba, which protect only against meningitis B

If you’d like to explore an alternative to Penbraya, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other meningitis vaccines that might work well for you.

Disclaimer: While Healthline strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.