Protecting UK adolescents and adults against meningococcal serogroup B disease

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Meningococcal serogroup B disease (MenB) is endemic in the UK and continues to cause the majority of invasive meningococcal disease. Two broadly protective protein-based MenB vaccines are now licensed and available, both with wide age indications. Whilst the UK recently became the first country to routinely vaccinate infants against MenB, a recommendation has not yet been extended to older age groups who can also now benefit from these vaccines.

Areas covered: This review summarizes the evidence supporting the rationale for adolescents and adults in the UK to consider MenB vaccination.

Expert commentary: Although MenB disease is rare, the UK reports one of the highest annual incidence rates within the European region, with over a third of cases occurring in those aged 10+ years. Overall, the case fatality rate following MenB disease in the UK is 4.2% but can be more than twice as high in teenagers and adults than in infants, and survivors are often left with life-changing disabling sequelae. MenB outbreaks are unpredictable and continue to occur in regions where it is endemic. These outbreaks often affect students attending school or university, with living on a campus being an important risk factor. Concerned individuals in this age group should consider MenB vaccination.

KEYWORDS:

• Serogroup B
• vaccine
• adults
• adolescents
• invasive meningococcal disease

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Siobhan George (Sudler Medical Communications) for medical writing support and editorial assistance.

Declaration of interest

A Vyse, G Ellsbury and H Madhava are all employed by Pfizer Ltd. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

Pfizer Ltd has paid for all costs associated with the development and publication of this manuscript.