Meningococcal group C disease in Greece during 1993-2006: the impact of an unofficial single-dose vaccination scheme adopted by most paediatricians.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine on the epidemiology of meningococcal C disease in Greece. Data from the National Reference Laboratory for Meningococcal Disease and a questionnaire distributed to Greek paediatricians were assessed. Since the introduction of the vaccine in 2001, 72% of Greek paediatricians have administered it as one single dose to patients aged > or =12 months. This vaccination scheme has probably contributed to a dramatic decrease in the number of meningococcal C infections, which reached zero in 2004.
Kafetzis
D A
DA
Second Department of Pediatrics, University of Athens, P. & A. Kyriakou Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. kafetzis@ath.forthnet.gr
Stamboulidis
K N
KN
Tzanakaki
G
G
Kourea Kremastinou
J
J
Skevaki
C L
CL
Konstantopoulos
A
A
Tsolia
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D032541:Mass Vaccination / Q000379:methods; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines