Evaluation of the impact of serogroup C meningococcal disease vaccination program in Brazil and its regions: a population-based study, 2001-2013.
BACKGROUND
Meningococcal C conjugate (MenC) vaccine was introduced as part of the Brazilian National Immunisation Program in 2010 for children < 1 year of age.


OBJECTIVE
The study objective was to evaluate the impact of this vaccination strategy.


METHODS
An observational, mixed ecological and analytical study was conducted, based on time series panel data from surveillance records (2001-2013).


RESULTS
A total of 37,538 of meningococcal disease cases were recorded during the study period. Of these, 19,997 were attributed to serogroup C. A decrease in meningococcal disease serogroup C (MDC) incidence among children aged < 1 year [65.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 20.5-84.7%] and 1-4 years (46.9%; 95%CI: 14.6-79.1%) were found in the three years following vaccination introduction. Vaccination impact on the reduction of MDC incidence varied from 83.7% (95%CI: 51.1-100.0%) in the Midwest region to 56.7% (95%CI: 37.4-76.0%) in the Northeast region.


CONCLUSIONS
Vaccination against MDC in Brazil had a positive impact on the population of children aged < 1 year, across all regions, and on the 1-4 year-old cohort. Nevertheless, in our view there is scope for improving the vaccination strategy adopted in Brazil.
Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Brasília, DF, Brasil.|Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Camile de
C
Moraes
Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
José Cássio de
JC
Moraes
Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Gabriela Drummond Marques da
GD
Silva
Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Medicina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
Elisabeth Carmen
EC
Duarte
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D038542:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / Q000276:immunology*; D015397:Program Evaluation
D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; C410218:serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine