Recent trends in meningococcal epidemiology and current vaccine recommendations.
OBJECTIVE
In 2005, a new meningococcal vaccine, tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was approved for use. This review discusses the population for whom it is recommended and the logic underlying these recommendations.


RESULTS
The older meningococcal vaccine, composed of capsular polysaccharide, had limited use in civilian populations. The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend the routine vaccination of adolescents with MCV4. This recommendation is largely based on newer epidemiologic data showing a considerable risk of meningococcal disease in late adolescence, most of which is preventable with vaccine.


CONCLUSIONS
The new MCV4 vaccine should be used in primary-care practices for the immunization of all adolescents and high-risk children and adults. In the future, further studies are likely to show it to be safe and effective for younger children too.
Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. Robert.Baltimore@yale.edu
Robert S
RS
Baltimore
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate