Quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines.
Neisseria meningitidis is an important cause of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia with most disease caused by meningococci bearing serogroups A, B, C, Y and W-135 polysaccharides. Monovalent serogroup C conjugate vaccines have become established in the immunisation programmes in many countries and the first quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine, containing the polysaccharides from 4 of the serogroups A, C, Y and W-135 meningococci conjugated to a protein carrier was licensed in the US in 2005. This vaccine and others in development offer the potential to broaden population protection against meningococcal disease.
Pace
David
D
Department of Paediatrics, Mater Dei Hospital, Tal-Qroqq, Msida, MSD 2090, Malta. dpace@mail.global.net.mt
Pollard
Andrew J
AJ
Messonier
Nancy E
NE
D006801:Humans; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D038381:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup A / Q000276:immunology; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000276:immunology; D038582:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup W-135 / Q000276:immunology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000276:immunology
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate