CDC Advisory Committee votes to recommend serogroup B meningococcal disease vaccination

The USA’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) yesterday voted for permissive use of serogroup B meningococcal vaccine for adolescents 16 to 23 years of age, with a preferred age of 16-18.

This recommendation allows them and their parents to decide, in collaboration with their health care professionals, if they wish to be immunized. This recommendation also paves the way for coverage of the vaccine by private and public health insurance, including the Vaccines for Children Program (VFC).

“Today's decision will help parents and health care professionals protect our children from all forms of meningitis by providing access to the vaccines," said Lynn Bozof, president of the National Meningitis Association (NMA). "While we would have preferred a routine recommendation, the permissive recommendation, if accepted by CDC, will ensure these vaccines are covered by private and public insurance, including the VFC program, and medical practices will be more likely to stock and administer them," she added.

Currently the CDC recommends routine vaccination against four of the five major strains of the disease (A, C, W and Y). The NMA plans to conduct outreach to educate parents and older adolescents about the importance of asking healthcare professionals about the serogroup B vaccine, as they may mistakenly believe they are already protected against this strain.