Abstract
Objectives: To understand the global landscape of prevention and control efforts targeting serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) disease and to identify the key challenges and gaps yet to be addressed.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive review of policies and practices for the use of protein-based MenB vaccines (Bexsero® [GlaxoSmithKline] and Trumenba® [Pfizer]) in all countries (n = 58) where either or both vaccine is authorized for use. We searched the literature (PubMed) and websites of health ministries and other relevant agencies to identify policy documents and plans and collect information about implementation timelines, target groups, vaccines being used, recommended schedules, and coverage data. Experts in the field were contacted for additional details and clarifications, as needed.
Results: We found evidence of a national MenB vaccination policy in 24 out of 58 countries where one or both protein-based MenB vaccines are authorized. Of these, 15 countries have included MenB vaccination in their immunization plans for at least one age-based risk group (mostly infants), 21 have issued recommendations for various risk groups based on underlying medical conditions (e.g. asplenia), and 13 have done so for select groups at increased risk of exposure (e.g. laboratory staff). Recommended vaccination schedules and number of doses, where available, varied widely. Vaccination coverage data for age-based risk groups were not obtained for most countries.
Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the significant heterogeneity in recommendations for MenB vaccination across countries. Greater transparency in reporting MenB vaccination recommendations and more robust data on implementation and the impact of vaccination would better facilitate optimizing MenB prevention strategies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 3647-3654 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Vaccine |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 26 |
| Early online date | 14 May 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 9 Jun 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R01AI132496 (PI: Dr. Nicole E. Basta). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study, results interpretation, and decision to publish.R.B. performs contract research on behalf of UK Health Security Agency for GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Sanofi Pasteur. All other authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Open Access: This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Citation: Giorgia Sulis, Miranda Horn, Ray Borrow, Nicole E. Basta, A comparison of national vaccination policies to prevent serogroup B meningococcal disease, Vaccine, Volume 40, Issue 26, 2022, Pages 3647-3654, ISSN 0264-410X.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2022.04.101.
