by What are meningococcal diseases?
Meningococcal diseases are serious illnesses caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, commonly known as meningococci. There are five main serogroups that can cause invasive meningococcal disease: A, B, C, W, and Y. Some of the illnesses caused by meningococcal bacteria include meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and sepsis (infection of the blood). Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly and can lead to death or serious complications such as hearing loss, nervous system damage, loss of limbs, etc. within hours if not treated promptly with antibiotics.
Who is at risk?
While can affect people of all ages, some groups are at increased risk of contracting the disease and develop more serious illness. Babies less than one year old have the highest rates of meningococcal disease. Teenagers and young adults aged 15 to 24 years are also at increased risk, with highest rates among 16-18 year olds. Other high-risk groups include anyone with a damaged or missing spleen or terminal complement component deficiency. People who live in close quarters or crowded settings like college dormitories are also at increased risk of getting the disease from close contact with an infected individual. Outbreaks of meningococcal disease can also occur in communities or among people who have prolonged close contact with an infected person. Travel to or living in countries with high rates of disease also increases risk.
Available vaccines
Meningococcal Vaccines are several vaccines available that protect against some of the meningococcal serogroups. Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines protect against serogroups A, C, W, and Y. A bivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine protects against serogroups C and Y. Monovalent meningococcal serogroup B vaccines protect against serogroup B which causes the majority of meningococcal disease in many countries. The meningococcal vaccines currently used in national immunization programs include:
– Meningococcal conjugate vaccine ACYW-135 (MenACWY): Approved for use in individuals 9 months of age and older to provide protection against serogroups A, C, W, and Y.
– Meningococcal conjugate vaccine ACWY (Menactra, Menveo): Approved for individuals 9 months through 55 years of age.
– Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (Bexsero, Trumenba): Approved for individuals 10-25 years old. A two-dose series is recommended for Bexero and a three-dose series for Trumenba.
Recommended vaccination schedule
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) provides recommendations for use of meningococcal vaccines in the United States based on the risk of contracting the disease and developing serious complications. Routine vaccination is recommended for all children at 11-12 years of age with a booster at 16 years of age. This ensures protection during the highest risk ages of 16-18 years.
High-risk groups including people with asplenia, complement deficiency, or microbiologists routinely exposed to N. meningitidis are recommended to receive MenACWY vaccine at age 2 years and booster every 5 years. First-year college students up to 21 years living in residence halls are recommended to be vaccinated with MenACWY or MenB vaccine if they have not been vaccinated previously. Older adults with occupational or other risks may also be recommended MenACWY vaccine. Timely vaccination according to ACIP guidelines provides best protection against potentially life-threatening meningococcal diseases.
Effectiveness and limitations
Overall, meningococcal vaccines provide good protection against the serogroups included in the vaccines. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines including MenACWY are between 85-100% effective in preventing invasive meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Duration of protection is estimated to be 3-5 years for young children and at least 10 years for older ages vaccinated during outbreaks. However, protection provided by natural infection or vaccination may not be lifelong.
MenB vaccines have been shown to be around 50-85% effective against diverse MenB strains according to clinical trials. Effectiveness in real-world use may vary depending on age and strains circulating at the time of vaccination. Also, no single MenB vaccine protects against all strains. Multiple MenB vaccines may provide broader coverage but more doses are required. Factors like waning immunity over time also affect continued protection. Vigilance and timely boosters are important to maintain protection. Newer generation broad coverage MenB vaccines are currently under development.
Meningococcal infections although rare can progress rapidly to become life-threatening. Timely vaccination with currently available meningococcal vaccines provides excellent protection against the serogroups contained in the vaccines especially among those at increased risk. However, protection is limited and not lifelong. Newer broad spectrum vaccines and boosters may help control the burden of meningococcal disease globally. Public health recommendations should also emphasize importance of vaccination for high-risk groups and during outbreaks. Overall, vaccination remains an important public health tool to prevent meningococcal diseases and their fatal complications.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
About Author - Money Singh
Money Singh is a seasoned content writer with over four years of experience in the market research sector. Her expertise spans various industries, including food and beverages, biotechnology, chemical and materials, defense and aerospace, consumer goods, etc. LinkedIn Profile
