Enter B and W: two new meningococcal vaccine programmes launched

Arch Dis Child. 2016 Jan;101(1):91-5. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-308928.

Abstract

In 2015, the UK became the first country in the world to have a comprehensive routine meningococcal vaccine programme targeting all of the main capsular groups of N. meningitidis. 1 An infant vaccine programme against meningococcal capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) was launched from 1st September with an aim to reduce endemic MenB disease in early childhood. On 1st August 2015, an adolescent programme against groups A, C, W and Y meningococci (MenACWY) was rolled out to halt a growing outbreak of capsular group W disease (MenW) caused by a hypervirulent clone of N. meningitidis, in addition to maintaining control against MenC disease provided by the current adolescent programme. 2.

Keywords: Immunisation; Infectious Diseases.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Distribution
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • England / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs*
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Meningococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Meningococcal Infections / prevention & control*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines*
  • United Kingdom
  • Vaccines, Conjugate
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • MenACWY
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Conjugate