title: Introduction and Rollout of a New Group A Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PsA-TT) in African Meningitis Belt Countries, 2010-2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A group A meningococcal conjugate vaccine (PsA-TT) was developed specifically for the African "meningitis belt" and was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2010. The vaccine was first used widely in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in December 2010 with great success. The remaining 23 meningitis belt countries wished to use this new vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the help of African countries, WHO developed a prioritization scheme and used or adapted existing immunization guidelines to mount PsA-TT vaccination campaigns. Vaccine requirements were harmonized with the Serum Institute of India, Ltd.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Burkina Faso was the first country to fully immunize its 1- to 29-year-old population in December 2010. Over the next 4 years, vaccine coverage was extended to 217 million Africans living in 15 meningitis belt countries.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new group A meningococcal conjugate vaccine was well received, with country coverage rates ranging from 85% to 95%. The rollout proceeded smoothly because countries at highest risk were immunized first while attention was paid to geographic contiguity to maximize herd protection. Community participation was exemplary.
authors.affiliation: Inter-country Support Team for West Africa, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Mamoudou H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Djingarey
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Fabien V K
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Diomandé
authors.affiliation: Inter-country Support Team for West Africa, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Rodrigue
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.affiliation: Inter-country Support Team for West Africa, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kandolo
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Nigeria Country Office, Abuja, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Florence
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shirehwa
authors.affiliation: Inter-country Support Team for West Africa, World Health Organization, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lingani
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Ryan T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tevi-Benissan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Perea
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland Department of Meningitis Vaccine Project, PATH, Ferney-Voltaire, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Preziosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Serum Institute of India, Ltd, Pune.
authors.forename: F Marc
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: LaForce
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008585:Meningitis, Meningococcal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate
chemical_list: C573970:MenAfriVac; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate
keywords: Africa; PsA-TT; meningitis belt; meningococcal group A; rollout plan