[Vaccines against meningococcal disease].
The meningococcal disease has been a source of preoccupation all over the world. Epidemics have been registered periodically in developed or developing countries. The most frequent meningococci are those concerned with serogroups A, B and C. Researches to develop effective vaccines against the disease have been taking place since the 40's. Presently, only vaccines against the meningococci from the serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 are available. These vaccines have important limitations both due to the age range that they protect and the period of time that the protection lasts. They are not routinely used in vaccination programs and are indicated only in risky situations. This demands a strict epidemiological surveillance of the disease. There are no vaccines against the serogroup B meningococci with recognized effectiveness, although, in the last decades, many have been tested. There are perspectives of important advances in this area, mainly with the development of conjugated vaccines, like the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine. Until the present, the chemoprophylaxis of the intimate communicants of a case is the best way to avoid secondary cases.
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Centro de Vigilância Epidemiológica, Secretaria Estadual de Saúde, São Paulo.