Meningococcal B vaccine: new drug. The only vaccine against some serogroup B meningococci. 2008


(1) Invasive infections due to serogroup B meningococci can be life-threatening. Antibiotics are not always effective. Vaccines available in France do not protect against serogroup B meningococci. (2) In the French region of Normandy, a vaccine manufactured by the Norwegian National Institute of Public Health and directed against serogroup B meningococci. (2) In the French region of Normandy, a vaccine manufactured by the Norwegian National Institute of Public Health and directed against a meningococcal strain related to the strain circulating in this region has been used since summer 2006 to protect children over one year of age and adolescents. (3) A review of the 16 available immunogenicity studies shows that immunogenicity is similar in children and adults when the vaccine is administered in two doses, six weeks apart. The manufacturing process was modified in 1995, and the new vaccine could be less immunogenic: three doses provided results similar to those obtained with two doses of the older vaccine. This implies that, in epidemic situations, the maximum protection conferred by the vaccine would be reached 3 to 4 months after beginning vaccination. (4) A double-blind placebo-controlled trial conducted between 1988 and 1991 included 171 800 adolescents aged 14 to 16 years who received two doses of the meningitis B vaccine, or placebo injections. During 29 months of follow-up, 12 invasive infections due to serogroup B meningococci occurred in the vaccine group, versus 24 cases in the placebo group. The protection rate was 57% but the confidence interval was very wide (21% to 78%). A correlation was established between the bactericidal antibody titre and clinical protection. (5) In this trial, the adverse events studied in 877 adolescents were infrequent: less than 4% of local adverse events, and about the same proportion of systemic adverse events (headache, nausea, fatigue, malaise), led to taking time off school. (6) Too few data are available for infants. And it is difficult to extrapolate to other countries the results obtained in Norway 10 years ago with a vaccine that was manufactured differently and may be more immunogenic. (7) In practice, vaccination with the Norwegian vaccine is justified in areas where an epidemic strain closely related to the vaccine strain is circulating, even though only about 60% of vaccinees are protected after three doses.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007115 Immunization Schedule Schedule giving optimum times usually for primary and/or secondary immunization. Immunization Schedules,Schedule, Immunization,Schedules, Immunization
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008589 Meningococcal Infections Infections with bacteria of the species NEISSERIA MENINGITIDIS. Meningococcal Septicemia,Infections, Meningococcal,Meningococcal Disease,Infection, Meningococcal,Meningococcal Diseases,Meningococcal Infection,Septicemia, Meningococcal
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002986 Clinical Trials as Topic Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries. Clinical Trial as Topic
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D005602 France A country in western Europe bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, the English Channel, the Mediterranean Sea, and the countries of Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the principalities of Andorra and Monaco, and by the duchy of Luxembourg. Its capital is Paris. Corsica,Saint Pierre and Miquelon,Miquelon and Saint Pierre,Miquelon and St. Pierre,St. Pierre and Miquelon
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths

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