Supply difficulties for the meningococcal conjugate vaccines against invasive serogroup C meningococcal infections (IMI C) are to be expected.
In this notice, the French High Council of public health (HCSP) has taken into consideration epidemiological data and vaccination coverage data. It reiterates current immunisation recommendations and gives a review of the characteristics of available meningococcal vaccines.
Based on the potentially available doses of meningococcal C conjugate vaccines and meningococcal A,C,Y,W conjugate vaccines, the HCSP considers that highly affected children aged between 12 months and 4 years must be given priority in the use of monovalent meningococcal C conjugate vaccines. For the 15-24 year age group, also highly affected, the use of a tetravalent conjugate vaccine in these potentially travelling subjects offers the benefit of a wider protection. For the other age groups who are at less risk but need to continue to be immunised to provide herd immunity, the HCSP recommends the use of tetravalent ACWY conjugate vaccines Nimenrix® and Menveo®.
In addition, considering the low vaccination coverage for IMI C whose incidence is on the increase in France, the HCSP asks health authorities to ensure the reimbursement of tetravalent ACWY conjugate vaccines when these are used as a replacement to monovalent vaccines during monovalent meningococcal C conjugate vaccine shortages.
These recommendations are regularly brought up to date based on information gathered about the availability of meningococcal C conjugate vaccines.
- Recommendation
- Europe
- France
- Meningococcal disease
