title: Current and future trends in immunization against meningitis.
abstract: The progress in vaccines for Haemophilus influenzae type b infection is followed; it is the disadvantages of pure polysaccharide vaccines that have stimulated the development of the present generation of polysaccharide-protein conjugated vaccines. From extensive clinical trials it is apparent that these are very effective in preventing disease in children. Conjugated haemophilus vaccines were introduced into the routine immunization schedules in the UK in Autumn 1992. Meningococcal A and C polysaccharide vaccines, effective for epidemic disease, are only now being developed in a protein conjugated form with the prospect of protecting young children and producing durable immunity. Group B outer membrane-based meningococcal vaccines produce only a low degree of protection and much further work is needed before even the optimum vaccine constituents of this organism can be identified. Vaccines to replace multivalent pneumococcal polysaccharide mixtures are only in the very earliest stages of development.
authors.affiliation: Manchester Public Health Laboratory, Withington Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D005544:Forecasting; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000639:trends*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines; C044237:Haemophilus influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial