Giving MenB and routine vaccines together may be safe for infants
02 Oct 2026
Researchers examined vaccine safety data from more than 10,000 infants who received MenB and National Immunisation Program (NIP) vaccines between 2022 and 2025. They compared infants who received the vaccines during the same visit with those who had them at separate appointments.
At two months, adverse events were reported in 29% of infants who received MenB and routine vaccines together, compared with 35% among those vaccinated separately.
At 12 months, the rate was 47% when vaccines were given at the same visit, compared with 52% when they were given separately. Results at four and six months were similar between the two groups.
The researchers said the findings do not show a safety advantage from spreading MenB vaccination across different appointments.
Dr Lucy Deng, paediatrician and lead author of the study, said parents and carers often ask whether delaying some vaccines can reduce side effects.
The study found that giving MenB with routine childhood vaccines can also reduce the number of appointments families need to attend. This may mean less time away from work or childcare, as well as fewer travel and healthcare costs.
Giving vaccines at the same appointment may also help reduce the chance of children falling behind with their vaccination schedule if a later appointment is missed or delayed.
Dr Rodney Pearce, GP and Chair of the Immunisation Coalition, said the findings provide reassurance about giving multiple vaccines during the same visit.
The study comes as access to funded MenB vaccination expands across Australia.
MenB is a major cause of invasive meningococcal disease in Australia. The Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends MenB vaccination for infants and children under two years of age, with the number of doses depending on when vaccination begins.
Giving MenB and routine vaccines together may be safe for infants
Source: AusVaxSafety / The Medical Journal of Australia