[Meningococcal vaccination: which one? When? Why?].
Two kinds of meningococcal vaccines are available for invasive meningococcal infections (IMI) prevention, non conjugated polysaccharide vaccines anti A+C or anti A+C+W135+Y and conjugated polysaccharide vaccines anti-C. The last one have the advantage of being effective from 2 months of age. Vaccination should to be used in four circumstances: for subjects remaining in close contact with an IMI case; for pilgrims going to Mecca (A+C+W135+Y vaccine must be used); for travelers to a location with active transmission of IMI and close contacts with local population; in case of "mass" vaccination decided by health authorities. Generalised vaccination of all of one or more age groups has been done for serotype C in some European countries, because of high incidence. Effectiveness of this kind of intervention should be weighted with the risk of immunoselection of another serotype and with the possibility of a spontaneous decrease of the incidence.
Rosenheim
Michel
M
Service de santé publique, groupe hospitalier La Pitié-La Salpêtrière, 75651 Paris 13. michel.rosenheim@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
D000367:Age Factors; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012703:Serotyping; D014195:Travel
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines