Vaccines > MCV4
Meningococcal
Conjugate Vaccine
ACIP
Recommendation
Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and
W-135) Conjugate Vaccine (MCV-4)
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ACIP
Recommends Meningococcal Vaccine for Adolescents
and College Freshmen
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommends routine vaccination
of young adolescents with MCV4 at the pre-adolescent
visit (11-12 year old). Introducing a recommendation
for MCV4 vaccination in young adolescents (11-12
years old) may strengthen the role of the pre-adolescent
visit and have a positive effect on vaccine
coverage in adolescence. ACIP recommends that
young adolescents see a healthcare provider
at age 11-12 for a routine preventive visit,
at which time appropriate immunizations and
other preventive services should be provided.
For those who have not previously received
MCV4, we recommend vaccination before high
school entry (~15 years old) as the most effective
strategy towards reducing meningococcal disease
incidence in adolescence and young adulthood.
Within 3 years, the goal is routine vaccination
with MCV4 of all adolescents beginning at 11
years of age. ACIP recognizes that vaccine
supply may be an issue in the first few years
after licensure of MCV4. Other adolescents
who wish to decrease their risk of meningococcal
disease may elect to receive vaccine.
College freshman who live in dormitories are
at higher risk for meningococcal disease compared
to other people of the same age. Because of
the feasibility constraints in targeting freshmen
in dormitories, colleges may elect to target
their vaccination campaigns to all matriculating
freshmen. The risk for meningococcal disease
among non-freshmen college students is similar
to that for the general population of similar
age (18-24 years). However, the vaccines are
safe and immunogenic and therefore can be provided
to non-freshmen college students who want to
reduce their risk for meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal disease is caused by bacteria
that infect the bloodstream and the linings
of the brain and spinal cord, causing serious
illness. Every year in the United States, 1,400
to 2,800 people get meningococcal disease.
Ten to 14 percent of people with meningococcal
disease die, and 11-19 percent of survivors
have permanent disabilities (such as mental
retardation, hearing loss, and loss of limbs).
The disease often begins with symptoms that
can be mistaken for common illnesses, such
as the flu. Meningococcal disease is particularly
dangerous because it progresses rapidly and
can kill within hours.
“Disease caused by meningococcal bacteria
kills about 300 people each year in the United
States. We are encouraged that today’s
ACIP recommendation will help to prevent this
potentially deadly disease among adolescents”
said Dr. Stephen Cochi, Acting Director of
the National Immunization Program at CDC.
The
vaccine is highly effective. However, it
does not protect people against meningococcal
disease caused by “type
B” bacteria. This type of bacteria causes
one-third of meningococcal cases. More than
half of the cases among infants aged <1
year are caused by “type B,” for
which no vaccine is available in the United
States. The new meningococcal vaccine was
licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) on January 14, 2005 for use in people
11-55 years of age. It is manufactured
by sanofi pasteur and is marketed as Menactra™.
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