This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
AAP updates recommendations on meningococcal vaccines
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
The AAP’s Red Book Committee updated recommendations on the use of meningococcal vaccines and addressed immunization of younger children at risk for meningococcal disease.
The recommendations for children and adolescents, penned by the AAP’s Committee on Infectious Diseases, include:
- An age-appropriate meningococcal conjugate vaccine is preferred to the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine, unless there is a contraindication for the meningococcal conjugate vaccine;
- Adolescents should be routinely immunized when aged 11 to 12 years, and receive a booster dose of a quadrivalent conjugated meningococcal vaccine when aged 16 years;
- Children who receive their first dose when aged 13 to 15 years should receive a booster dose when aged 16 to 18 years, up to 5 years after their first dose;
- Children who receive their first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine when aged at least 16 years do not need a booster dose;
- Unvaccinated or previously vaccinated college students who live in residence halls and receive their last dose before aged 16 should receive a single dose of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine;
- For those with an increased risk for meningococcal disease, a two-dose primary series of MenACWY-D (Menactra, Sanofi Pasteur) or MenACWY-CRM (Menveo, Novartis) is recommended for patients aged 2 to 55 years, and a four-dose primary series of MenACWY-CRM or Hib-MenCY-TT (MenHibrix, GlaxoSmithKline) is recommended for children aged 2 to 18 months;
- HIV is not an indication for routine MenACWY immunization before 11 years of age. However, children aged 11 years and older with HIV should receive a two-dose primary series of MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM 8 to 12 weeks apart with a single booster dose;
- Primary series for children aged 2 years and older who have a persistent risk for meningococcal disease should include two doses of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine 8 to 12 weeks apart;
- Children aged 2 months to 6 years with a persistent risk for meningococcal disease should receive a booster dose 3 years after primary series and every 5 years thereafter. Boosters of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate should be repeated every 5 years for children aged 7 years and older who have a persistent risk for meningococcal disease and received their first meningococcal vaccine when aged 7 years or older.
Routine vaccination is not recommended for health children aged 2 months to 10 years unless they have an increased or persistent risk for meningococcal disease. Children with HIV should not receive a meningococcal vaccine until they are 11 years of age.
Those traveling to an area with high meningococcal endemicity should receive an age-appropriate meningococcal vaccine that includes serogroups A and W. There may be other areas with meningococcal outbreaks, such as serogroup W in Chile, that need to be considered by travelers. Completion of the entire series is preferred before travel.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding do not prevent vaccination with MenACWY or MPSV4 (Menomune, Sanofi Pasteur) if indicated.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts