Neisseria meningitidis is one of the most feared infections in
pediatrics as the result of its rapid progression, high fatality rate, and
frequent occurrence of sequelae. The 5 major meningococcal serogroups associated
with disease are A, B, C, Y, and W-135. Currently available polysaccharide
vaccines are effective in preventing disease caused by serogroups A, C, Y, and
W-135 in older children and adults but do not elicit good long-term protection
in young children. Vaccines that protect against serogroup B disease are still
in development. As with the Haemophilus influenzae type b and
pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines, conjugation of the polysaccharide vaccine
to a protein carrier dramatically changes vaccine characteristics, with
resulting efficacy in infants. New meningococcal conjugate vaccines against
serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 are being developed. A serogroup C conjugate
vaccine has been introduced successfully into the routine childhood schedule in
the United Kingdom. New meningococcal conjugate vaccines are likely to have a
dramatic effect on the burden of meningococcal disease within the next decade. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
From the 1Meningitis and Special
Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, and
2Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (South West), Public
Health Laboratory, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Gloucestershire, UK.
Address correspondence to Montse
Soriano-Gabarró, MD, MSc, Meningitis and Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS C-09, Atlanta, GA 30333,
e-mail: zzd7@cdc.gov .
Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All
rights reserved.
ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND
MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION
PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS
OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR
LEGAL ADVICE. THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND
COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH
YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.
"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"