Matching articles for "meningococcal vaccine"
Zilucoplan (Zilbrysq) for Myasthenia Gravis
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 15, 2024; (Issue 1700)
The FDA has approved the complement C5
inhibitor zilucoplan (Zilbrysq – UCB) for once-daily
subcutaneous treatment of generalized myasthenia
gravis (gMG) in adults who are anti-acetylcholine
receptor...
The FDA has approved the complement C5
inhibitor zilucoplan (Zilbrysq – UCB) for once-daily
subcutaneous treatment of generalized myasthenia
gravis (gMG) in adults who are anti-acetylcholine
receptor (AChR) antibody-positive. Zilucoplan is
the first complement inhibitor to be approved for
treatment of myasthenia gravis that can be self-administered.
Two IV complement inhibitors,
eculizumab (Soliris) and ravulizumab (Ultomiris),
were approved earlier.
Penbraya: A Pentavalent Meningococcal Vaccine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • March 18, 2024; (Issue 1698)
The FDA has licensed Penbraya (Pfizer), a pentavalent
polysaccharide conjugate meningococcal
vaccine, for prevention of invasive meningococcal
disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis
serogroups A, B, C, W,...
The FDA has licensed Penbraya (Pfizer), a pentavalent
polysaccharide conjugate meningococcal
vaccine, for prevention of invasive meningococcal
disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis
serogroups A, B, C, W, or Y (MenABCWY) in persons
10-25 years old. Penbraya is the only meningococcal
vaccine that contains all five of these serogroups.
Two quadrivalent polysaccharide conjugate
meningococcal vaccines containing serogroups A,
C, W, and Y (MenACWY; Menveo, MenQuadfi) and
two meningococcal serogroup B vaccines (MenB;
Bexsero, Trumenba) are available in the US (see
Table 2).
Adult Immunization
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 17, 2022; (Issue 1661)
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommends use of certain vaccines in adults
residing in the US. Routine childhood immunization
has reduced the overall incidence of some of
these...
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommends use of certain vaccines in adults
residing in the US. Routine childhood immunization
has reduced the overall incidence of some of
these vaccine-preventable diseases, but many
adults remain susceptible. Recommendations for
vaccination against COVID-19, seasonal influenza,
and monkeypox and vaccination of travelers have
been reviewed separately.
Expanded Table: Some Vaccines for Adults (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • October 17, 2022; (Issue 1661)
...
MenQuadfi - A New Meningococcal (A, C, W, and Y) Vaccine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 17, 2021; (Issue 1624)
The FDA has licensed MenQuadfi (Sanofi Pasteur),
a quadrivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine
that uses tetanus toxoid as a protein carrier, for
prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused
by...
The FDA has licensed MenQuadfi (Sanofi Pasteur),
a quadrivalent polysaccharide conjugate vaccine
that uses tetanus toxoid as a protein carrier, for
prevention of invasive meningococcal disease caused
by Neisseria meningitidis serogroups A, C, W, and Y
(MenACWY) in persons ≥2 years old.
In Brief: New Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccination Recommendations
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 30, 2020; (Issue 1612)
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) has issued new recommendations for meningococcal
vaccination. Booster vaccination against
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is
now recommended...
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) has issued new recommendations for meningococcal
vaccination. Booster vaccination against
Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) is
now recommended in persons at increased risk
for meningococcal disease (see Table 1). MenB
booster doses were not recommended previously for
any population.
Vaccines for Travelers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 19, 2018; (Issue 1560)
Persons planning to travel outside the US should be
up to date on routine vaccines and, depending on their
destination, duration of travel, and planned activities,
may also receive certain travel-specific...
Persons planning to travel outside the US should be
up to date on routine vaccines and, depending on their
destination, duration of travel, and planned activities,
may also receive certain travel-specific vaccines.
Tickborne encephalitis and dengue vaccines, which
are not available in the US, are reviewed in a separate
article available online. Detailed advice for travel to
specific destinations is available from the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list. Recommendations for
administration of vaccines as part of routine adult
immunization are discussed in a separate issue.
Tickborne Encephalitis and Dengue Vaccines (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 19, 2018; (Issue 1560)
No vaccines against tickborne encephalitis (TBE) or
dengue are available in the US, but vaccines have been
licensed in some other...
No vaccines against tickborne encephalitis (TBE) or
dengue are available in the US, but vaccines have been
licensed in some other countries.
Adult Immunization
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 7, 2018; (Issue 1546)
The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommends routine use of the following
vaccines in adults residing in the US: influenza, tetanus/diphtheria alone (Td) and in combination with...
The US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
(ACIP) recommends routine use of the following
vaccines in adults residing in the US: influenza, tetanus/diphtheria alone (Td) and in combination with acellular
pertussis (Tdap), measles/mumps/rubella (MMR),
varicella (VAR), herpes zoster (RZV; ZVL), human
papillomavirus (HPV), and pneumococcal conjugate
(PCV13) and polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccines. For
adults with certain medical conditions or occupational,
behavioral, or other risk factors, hepatitis A (HepA),
hepatitis B (HepB), meningococcal (MenACWY; MenB),
and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccines are
also recommended. Recommendations for vaccination
against seasonal influenza and vaccination of travelers
are reviewed separately.
Expanded Table: Some Vaccines Recommended for Use in Adults (online only)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 7, 2018; (Issue 1546)
...
View the Expanded Table: Some Vaccines Recommended for Use in Adults
In Brief: New Adult Immunization Recommendations
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 24, 2017; (Issue 1519)
The 2017 adult immunization schedule approved by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) includes some new or revised recommendations.1 The complete schedule is available on the CDC's...
The 2017 adult immunization schedule approved by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) includes some new or revised recommendations.1 The complete schedule is available on the CDC's website (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedule). New recommendations for use of influenza vaccine during the 2016-2017 season were included in a previous issue of The Medical Letter.2 Updated recommendations for other vaccines are summarized below. Recommendations for routine use of vaccines in adults were reviewed in an earlier issue.3
Download complete U.S. English article
- DK Kim et al. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older – United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2017; 66:136.
- Influenza vaccine for 2016-2017. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2016; 58:127.
- Adult immunization. Treat Guidel Med Lett 2014; 12:39.
- Gardasil 9 – a broader HPV vaccine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2015; 57:47.
- Trumenba: a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2015; 57:5.
- Bexsero – a second serogroup B meningococcal vaccine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2015; 57:158.
Download complete U.S. English article
Treatment of Lyme Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 9, 2016; (Issue 1494)
Most cases of Lyme disease in the US occur between
May and September in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic,
and North Central...
Most cases of Lyme disease in the US occur between
May and September in the Northeastern, Mid-Atlantic,
and North Central states.
Bexsero - A Second Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 23, 2015; (Issue 1482)
The FDA has approved Bexsero (Novartis/GSK), a
vaccine that protects against invasive meningococcal
disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup
B. It is the second serogroup B meningococcal...
The FDA has approved Bexsero (Novartis/GSK), a
vaccine that protects against invasive meningococcal
disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup
B. It is the second serogroup B meningococcal vaccine
to be approved in the US; Trumenba was the first.
Both vaccines are approved for use in persons 10-25
years old. Bexsero is approved in Europe, Canada, and
Australia for use in children as young as 2 months old.
Trumenba: A Serogroup B Meningococcal Vaccine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • January 5, 2015; (Issue 1459)
The FDA has approved Trumenba (Pfizer), a vaccine
that protects against invasive meningococcal disease
caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, for use
in adolescents and young adults 10-25 years...
The FDA has approved Trumenba (Pfizer), a vaccine
that protects against invasive meningococcal disease
caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B, for use
in adolescents and young adults 10-25 years old.
Vaccines for Travelers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 24, 2014; (Issue 1456)
Patients planning to travel to other countries should be
up to date on routine immunizations and, depending
on their destination, duration of travel, and planned
activities, may also need to receive certain...
Patients planning to travel to other countries should be
up to date on routine immunizations and, depending
on their destination, duration of travel, and planned
activities, may also need to receive certain travel-specific vaccines. Common travel vaccines are listed in
Table 2. More detailed advice for travelers
is available from the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) at www.cdc.gov/travel. Guidelines
for routine adult immunization are discussed in a
separate issue.
Adult Immunization
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • June 1, 2014; (Issue 142)
Vaccines recommended for adults residing in the
US are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel have been
reviewed separately.
Eight vaccines are currently recommended by the US Advisory Committee on...
Vaccines recommended for adults residing in the
US are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel have been
reviewed separately.
Eight vaccines are currently recommended by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for routine use in adults at various ages...
Eight vaccines are currently recommended by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for routine use in adults at various ages...
In Brief: Prevention of Meningococcal B Disease
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 9, 2013; (Issue 1431)
An outbreak (8 cases to date) of meningococcal disease at Princeton University caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has led the FDA and CDC to permit importation and investigational use (at Princeton...
An outbreak (8 cases to date) of meningococcal disease at Princeton University caused by Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B has led the FDA and CDC to permit importation and investigational use (at Princeton University only) of a meningococcus B vaccine (4CMenB; Bexsero – Novartis) that has not been approved in the US. Bexsero has been approved for use in the European Union and in Australia.
THE VACCINE — Until recently, no serogroup B vaccine was widely available because the polysaccharide capsule of the B serogroup, unlike those of the other main meningococcal serogroups (A, C, Y, and W-135), is only weakly immunogenic. The 4CMenB vaccine contains 3 protein antigens identified in the N. meningitidis serogroup B genome and membrane components from a New Zealand outbreak strain. The vaccine has been tested in more than 8000 adults and children, has proved to be immunogenic, and appears to be safe.1 Its efficacy has not been established clinically, but laboratory testing, according to the CDC, has found that the vaccine should be protective against the strain causing the Princeton University outbreak. Bactericidal antibody levels develop about 2 weeks after one dose of the vaccine; a second dose is needed 1-6 months after the first to maintain protection.
CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS — Close contacts of patients with invasive meningococcal disease (e.g., same household, roommates, boyfriend or girlfriend) should receive antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis. Antimicrobial drugs can prevent secondary cases and eradicate the organism from the nasopharynx of healthy carriers. The susceptibility of serogroup B meningococci to antimicrobial agents is the same as that of other meningococcal serogroups. Regimens recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are: oral rifampin 600 mg (10 mg/kg for children) q12h for 2 days; oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg once (not recommended for children); or a single IM injection of ceftriaxone 250 mg (125 mg for children).2
CONCLUSION — The new vaccine against serogroup B meningococcal disease, which is investigational in the US, appears to be immunogenic and safe. For immediate protection after close contact with an infected patient, antimicrobial prophylaxis is recommended.
1. NJ Carter. Multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB; Bexsero®): a review of its use in primary and booster vaccination. BioDrugs 2013; 27:263.
2. AC Cohn et al. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2013; 62(RR-2):1.
Download complete U.S. English article
THE VACCINE — Until recently, no serogroup B vaccine was widely available because the polysaccharide capsule of the B serogroup, unlike those of the other main meningococcal serogroups (A, C, Y, and W-135), is only weakly immunogenic. The 4CMenB vaccine contains 3 protein antigens identified in the N. meningitidis serogroup B genome and membrane components from a New Zealand outbreak strain. The vaccine has been tested in more than 8000 adults and children, has proved to be immunogenic, and appears to be safe.1 Its efficacy has not been established clinically, but laboratory testing, according to the CDC, has found that the vaccine should be protective against the strain causing the Princeton University outbreak. Bactericidal antibody levels develop about 2 weeks after one dose of the vaccine; a second dose is needed 1-6 months after the first to maintain protection.
CHEMOPROPHYLAXIS — Close contacts of patients with invasive meningococcal disease (e.g., same household, roommates, boyfriend or girlfriend) should receive antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis. Antimicrobial drugs can prevent secondary cases and eradicate the organism from the nasopharynx of healthy carriers. The susceptibility of serogroup B meningococci to antimicrobial agents is the same as that of other meningococcal serogroups. Regimens recommended by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices are: oral rifampin 600 mg (10 mg/kg for children) q12h for 2 days; oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg once (not recommended for children); or a single IM injection of ceftriaxone 250 mg (125 mg for children).2
CONCLUSION — The new vaccine against serogroup B meningococcal disease, which is investigational in the US, appears to be immunogenic and safe. For immediate protection after close contact with an infected patient, antimicrobial prophylaxis is recommended.
1. NJ Carter. Multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB; Bexsero®): a review of its use in primary and booster vaccination. BioDrugs 2013; 27:263.
2. AC Cohn et al. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2013; 62(RR-2):1.
Download complete U.S. English article
In Brief: Meningococcal Vaccine for Infants
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 11, 2013; (Issue 1429)
Rates of meningococcal disease are highest in infancy, but until recently no meningococcal vaccine was approved for use in this age group. MenHibrix (GSK), a new conjugate vaccine that protects against...
Rates of meningococcal disease are highest in infancy, but until recently no meningococcal vaccine was approved for use in this age group. MenHibrix (GSK), a new conjugate vaccine that protects against Neisseria meningitidis serogroups C and Y and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), has been approved by the FDA for use in infants ≥6 weeks old and Menveo, a meningococcal vaccine already approved for patients ≥2 years old that protects against serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135, is now approved for use in infants ≥2 months old.
SEROGROUPS — Five major serogroups of N. meningitidis, A, B, C, Y, and W-135, cause most of the reported cases of invasive meningococcal disease. Serogroup A is the leading cause of epidemic meningitis worldwide, especially in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, but it is rare in the US. Serogroup B causes about 60% of all meningitis cases in infants and, together with serogroups C and Y, accounts for most of the endemic disease in the US. Serogroup W-135 has caused outbreaks worldwide, particularly among pilgrims to Mecca during the Hajj and their close contacts on arriving home. Serogroup B remains the only major serogroup for which no vaccine is available in the US. A meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero – Novartis) is licensed in Europe and Australia for patients ≥2 months old.
IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES — FDA approval of both MenHibrix and Menveo (for this age group) was based on immunologic studies in infants who received the vaccines at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Both vaccines produced protective antibody responses in almost all vaccinated infants. With MenHibrix, antibody levels against Hib were non-inferior to those with 2 standard monovalent Hib vaccines.1
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE — The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not recommend routine vaccination against meningococcal disease for infants. It does recommend use of either MenHibrix or Menveo for infants who are at increased risk of meningococcal disease because of persistent complement deficiencies, functional or anatomic asplenia, or exposure to a community outbreak of disease caused by one of the serogroups in the vaccine.2 Menveo is also recommended for infants traveling with their families to the Hajj or to the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. Both vaccines can be given on a 4-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months, but the first dose of MenHibrix can be administered as early as 6 weeks and the last dose as late as 18 months.
1. KA Bryant et al. Immunogenicity and safety of H. influenzae type b-N meningitidis C/Y conjugate vaccine in infants. Pediatrics 2011; 127:e1375.
2. AC Cohn et al. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2013; 62(RR-2):1.
Download complete U.S. English article
SEROGROUPS — Five major serogroups of N. meningitidis, A, B, C, Y, and W-135, cause most of the reported cases of invasive meningococcal disease. Serogroup A is the leading cause of epidemic meningitis worldwide, especially in the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa, but it is rare in the US. Serogroup B causes about 60% of all meningitis cases in infants and, together with serogroups C and Y, accounts for most of the endemic disease in the US. Serogroup W-135 has caused outbreaks worldwide, particularly among pilgrims to Mecca during the Hajj and their close contacts on arriving home. Serogroup B remains the only major serogroup for which no vaccine is available in the US. A meningococcal B vaccine (Bexsero – Novartis) is licensed in Europe and Australia for patients ≥2 months old.
IMMUNOLOGIC STUDIES — FDA approval of both MenHibrix and Menveo (for this age group) was based on immunologic studies in infants who received the vaccines at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months. Both vaccines produced protective antibody responses in almost all vaccinated infants. With MenHibrix, antibody levels against Hib were non-inferior to those with 2 standard monovalent Hib vaccines.1
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE — The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not recommend routine vaccination against meningococcal disease for infants. It does recommend use of either MenHibrix or Menveo for infants who are at increased risk of meningococcal disease because of persistent complement deficiencies, functional or anatomic asplenia, or exposure to a community outbreak of disease caused by one of the serogroups in the vaccine.2 Menveo is also recommended for infants traveling with their families to the Hajj or to the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa. Both vaccines can be given on a 4-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months, but the first dose of MenHibrix can be administered as early as 6 weeks and the last dose as late as 18 months.
1. KA Bryant et al. Immunogenicity and safety of H. influenzae type b-N meningitidis C/Y conjugate vaccine in infants. Pediatrics 2011; 127:e1375.
2. AC Cohn et al. Prevention and control of meningococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Recomm Rep 2013; 62(RR-2):1.
Download complete U.S. English article
Drugs for Bacterial Infections
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 1, 2013; (Issue 131)
The text that follows reviews some common bacterial
infections and their empiric treatment pending the
results of culture and susceptibility testing. The recommendations
made here are based on the results...
The text that follows reviews some common bacterial
infections and their empiric treatment pending the
results of culture and susceptibility testing. The recommendations
made here are based on the results of
susceptibility studies, clinical trials, and the opinions
of Medical Letter reviewers. Tables 1 and 2 list the usual
dosages of antibacterial drugs.
Adult Immunizations
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • December 1, 2011; (Issue 112)
Vaccines recommended for routine use in US adults
are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel have been
reviewed...
Vaccines recommended for routine use in US adults
are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel have been
reviewed separately.
Vaccines and Pregnancy
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 28, 2011; (Issue 1378)
Live-attenuated vaccines are generally contraindicated
during pregnancy; inactivated vaccines can be
given if indicated. A more detailed review of routine
immunizations for adults will be available in...
Live-attenuated vaccines are generally contraindicated
during pregnancy; inactivated vaccines can be
given if indicated. A more detailed review of routine
immunizations for adults will be available in the
December issue of Treatment Guidelines from The
Medical Letter.
In Brief: A Booster Dose of Meningococcal Vaccine for Adolescents
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 16, 2011; (Issue 1364)
Evidence of waning immunity by 5 years post-vaccination has led the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to recommend, in addition to a primary dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 11 or...
Evidence of waning immunity by 5 years post-vaccination has led the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) to recommend, in addition to a primary dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine at 11 or 12 years of age, a booster dose at age 16. Adolescents who receive a first dose of the vaccine at age 13-15 should receive a booster dose at 16-18 (before college). Those who receive their first dose at ≥16 years of age do not need a booster dose. Routine vaccination of healthy persons who are not at increased risk for exposure to Neisseria meningitidis is not recommended after age 21.1
1. CDC. Updated recommendations for use of meningococcal conjugate vaccines — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011; 60:72.
Download U.S. English
1. CDC. Updated recommendations for use of meningococcal conjugate vaccines — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011; 60:72.
Download U.S. English
A New Conjugate Meningococcal Vaccine (Menveo)
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 26, 2010; (Issue 1343)
The FDA has approved Menveo (Novartis), a new quadrivalent conjugated polysaccharide vaccine, for
protection against disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis in people 11-55 years...
The FDA has approved Menveo (Novartis), a new quadrivalent conjugated polysaccharide vaccine, for
protection against disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis in people 11-55 years old.
Advice for Travelers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • November 1, 2009; (Issue 87)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Guidelines are also available from the Infectious Diseases...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for information about appropriate vaccines and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Guidelines are also available from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
Adult Immunization
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 1, 2009; (Issue 80)
Although immunization programs have produced high vaccination rates in US infants and children, similar successes have not been achieved in adults. Vaccines recommended for routine use in adults are reviewed...
Although immunization programs have produced high vaccination rates in US infants and children, similar successes have not been achieved in adults. Vaccines recommended for routine use in adults are reviewed here. Vaccines for travel are reviewed separately.
A Reminder: Meningococcal Vaccine
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • July 28, 2008; (Issue 1291)
The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended administration of the quadrivalent conjugated polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine (Menactra – Sanofi Pasteur) to all persons 11 to 18...
The U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended administration of the quadrivalent conjugated polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine (Menactra – Sanofi Pasteur) to all persons 11 to 18 years old, particularly those entering high school and college freshmen living in dormitories.1,2 The peak incidence of meningococcal disease, after early childhood, occurs in the 15-19 year-old age group. The conjugate vaccine is more immunogenic than the meningococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine (Menommune – Sanofi Pasteur).
ADVERSE EFFECTS — The most common adverse reactions with the conjugate vaccine have been headache, fatigue and malaise, in addition to pain, redness and induration at the injection site. Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred rarely.3
CONCLUSION — Previously unvaccinated children starting high school or going away to college this fall should receive a single dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra).
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to vaccinate all persons aged 11-18 years with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007; 56:794.
2. Menactra: a meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2005; 47:29.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Update: Guillain-Barre syndrome among recipients of Menactra meningococcal conjugate vaccine — United States, October 2005-February 2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006; 55:364.
Download: U.S. English
ADVERSE EFFECTS — The most common adverse reactions with the conjugate vaccine have been headache, fatigue and malaise, in addition to pain, redness and induration at the injection site. Guillain-Barré syndrome has occurred rarely.3
CONCLUSION — Previously unvaccinated children starting high school or going away to college this fall should receive a single dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra).
1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Revised recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to vaccinate all persons aged 11-18 years with meningococcal conjugate vaccine. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007; 56:794.
2. Menactra: a meningococcal conjugate vaccine. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2005; 47:29.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Update: Guillain-Barre syndrome among recipients of Menactra meningococcal conjugate vaccine — United States, October 2005-February 2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2006; 55:364.
Download: U.S. English
Advice for Travelers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • May 1, 2004; (Issue 21)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask physicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. More detailed advice for travelers is available from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at 877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747) or www.cdc.gov/travel. Recommendations for the treatment of parasitic diseases are available in the public reading room of The Medical Letter's web site.
Advice for Travelers
The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics • April 23, 1999; (Issue 1051)
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask pysicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Legal requirements for entry and epidemiological conditions in different...
Patients planning to travel to other countries often ask pysicians for advice about immunizations and prevention of diarrhea and malaria. Legal requirements for entry and epidemiological conditions in different countries vary from time to time, often unpredictably, but some reasonable recommendations can be made.