Menactra Meningococcal Vaccine

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Fiji Launches Meningococcal C Vaccination Program

Don Hackett — Wed, 16 May 2018 19:36:00 +0000

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Vaccination campaign launched to protect every child and adolescent in Fiji against meningococcal disease

In response to a recent meningococcal C outbreak on the Fiji islands, every child and adolescent in Fiji will soon have the chance to be vaccinated.

From January to April 22, 2018, there have been 58 confirmed and suspected patients reported and 4 deaths.

This Government of Fiji vaccination campaign launched on May 14, 2018, aims to vaccinate up to 325,000 children and adolescents against meningococcal C disease.

Vaccinations will be taking place in health centers, communities, schools and other education centers, with an initial focus in Central Division and Ra subdivisions in the West.

“The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is committed to the rollout of this mass vaccination campaign to protect every child and adolescent between one and 19 years in Fiji against meningococcal disease,” said the Honourable Minister for Health in Fiji, Ms. Rosy Akbar.

Vaccinating this age group will help to protect the broader community by reducing the number of people who may carry the disease without experiencing symptoms, which also helps reduce the risk of the bacteria being passed on to others who haven’t been vaccinated” said Akbar.

“We appreciate the support from all our partners to undertake this campaign, and encourage all parents and guardians to have their children immunized for the benefit of the entire community,” said Akbar.

In late March 2018, Fiji declared an outbreak of meningococcal disease following an increase in cases.

Children and adolescents in Fiji have been most affected by the disease. If detected early, most cases of meningococcal disease can be treated.

To date, 100 percent of patients have been 19 years of age or under, with the largest proportion of cases under 5 years of age.

This immunization program is supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

“UNICEF is pleased to support the Government of Fiji in sourcing the necessary vaccines, which will help to reach every child in the country, no matter where they live and ensure they are protected against this deadly disease,” said UNICEF Pacific Representative, Sheldon Yett.

Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening disease, which usually causes meningitis (inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and/or septicemia (blood poisoning).

For older children and adults common symptoms include sudden fever, vomiting, headache, and stiff neck/backache.

For babies, symptoms generally include fever, neck stiffness, irritability, drowsiness, vomiting, not feeding properly, or having a lack of muscle tone/floppy baby.

The CDC says travelers to Fiji should check the vaccines and medicines 4-6 weeks before departure.

These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine, and your yearly flu shot.

Additionally, the CDC recommends Hepatitis A, B, and Typhoid.

There are two types of meningococcal vaccines available in the United States:

Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (Menactra® and Menveo®)
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (Bexsero® and Trumenba®)

Travelers can schedule an appointment with a travel vaccine pharmacy.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector prices for general information.

Vaccine discounts can be found here.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.

Sub Title:

Meningococcal conjugate vaccines, Menactra and Menveo, and Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines, Bexsero and Trumenba are available in USA

References:

Fiji Offers Sun, Beaches and Meningococcal C

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Infant Vaccinations Co-administered with MenACWY-TT Vaccine Found Effective

Don Hackett — Wed, 16 May 2018 14:54:43 +0000

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mmunogenicity and Reactogenicity of DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and PHiD-CV When Co-Administered with MenACWY-TT in Infants:

The number of vaccines delivered to infants during their early life continues to be a concern.

Vaccines are available that can help prevent meningococcal disease, which is any type of illness caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria.

A new study reports some good news regarding when to administer the meningococcal vaccine.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra® or Menveo®) for a subgroup of children who are between 2 months and 10 years old if certain criteria are met.

This study is the first to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of MenACWY-TT when coadministered with diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated poliovirus virus-Haemophilus influenza type b (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib) and pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV), according to a 3+1 or 2+1 schedule in infants/toddlers.

These researchers said the vaccination with the meningococcal quadrivalent tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT) can be considered as an alternative option to using monovalent meningococcal vaccines in pediatric immunization schedules.

Additionally, it can be co-administered with the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and 10-valent PHiD-CV vaccines.

This study reported for each DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib antigen, ≥97.2%, ≥76.5% and ≥97.9% of participants had seropositive/seroprotective levels one-month post-primary vaccination, before the booster dose, and one-month post-booster, respectively.

For each vaccine pneumococcal serotype, ≥74.0% of infants had antibody concentrations ≥0.35 μg/mL at one-month post-primary vaccination, and robust increases in antibody GMCs were observed from pre- to post-booster.

Which means, these results support the co-administration of MenACWY-TT with routine childhood vaccines.

This phase 3 clinical trial NCT01144663 was a randomized, multicenter trial included 2,095 infants. After vaccination, a high percentage of the cohort achieved seroprotective antibody levels for anti-DT, anti-TT, anti-PRP, anti-HBs, and anti-poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 antibodies for both postprimary (≥97.2%) and post-booster (≥97.9%) administration.

Study conflict of Interest and Source of Funding: GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA was the funding source and was involved in all stages of the study conduct and analysis. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals SA also funded all costs associated with the development and the publishing of the present manuscript.

Sub Title:

DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and PHiD-CV found to be Immunogenic in infants when Co-Administered with MenACWY-TT

References:

Meningococcal Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know

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Meningococcal Disease is Disappearing

Don Hackett — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 13:08:26 +0000

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Meningococcal ACWY Vaccines (MenACWY and MPSV4) VIS

Meningococcal disease in the United States may be ending. This sometimes fatal disease has rapidly declined over the past decade, which is great news.

After the MenACWY vaccine introduction, the incidence of meningococcal disease decreased 70%.

And vaccination programs are taking the credit.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) looked at data for the MenACWY meningococcal conjugate vaccine used in people aged 11 to 18 years, over the past 20 years.

Of the 7,924 cases of meningococcal disease were reported to the CDC, 15 percent of these cases proved fatal.

The CDC authors concluded, "Declines in meningococcal disease incidence in the United States have been observed among all age groups and predominant serogroups (B, C, and Y).”

“Reductions in the incidence of meningococcal disease due to serogroups A, C, W, and Y among adolescents suggest an impact of the MenACWY vaccine program in this age group."

But, even if you received meningococcal vaccines, you could still get meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called “serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact (coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household, according to the CDC.

The CDC recommends vaccination with a meningococcal conjugate vaccine for all preteens and teens at 11 to 12 years old, with a booster dose at 16 years old. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 year olds) also may be vaccinated with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine.

Below is more information about which meningococcal vaccines are recommended for people.

Preteens and Teens: There are two types of meningococcal vaccines for preteens and teens:

Meningococcal conjugate vaccines (Menactra® or Menveo®)
Serogroup B meningococcal vaccines (Bexsero® or Trumenba®)

Babies and Children: The CDC recommends a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra® or Menveo®) for children who are between 2 months and 10 years old

Adults: Adults should get a meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Menactra® or Menveo®) if they:

Have a rare type of disorder (complement component deficiency)
Are taking a medicine called Soliris®
Have a damaged spleen or their spleen has been removed
Have HIV
Are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis
Are traveling to or residing in countries in which the disease is common
Are part of a population identified to be at increased risk because of a serogroup A, C, W, or Y meningococcal disease outbreak
Are not up to date with this vaccine and are a first-year college student living in a residence hall
Are a military recruit

Adults should get a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (Bexsero® or Trumenba®) if they:

Have a rare type of disorder (complement component deficiency)
Are taking a medicine called Soliris®
Have a damaged spleen or their spleen has been removed
Are a microbiologist who is routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis
Are part of a population identified to be at increased risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak.

The risk for meningococcal disease remains high in patients using the blood disorder drug Soliris, even after they have received a meningococcal vaccine, according to the CDC.

But, the CDC says patients should still receive meningococcal vaccines before they begin treatment with Soliris.

The CDC is asking all state health departments to fill out a report form for all meningococcal disease cases in patients receiving Soliris (eculizumab). That form can be found here.

The agency asks that forms be sent by secure email to meningnet@cdc.gov or secure fax at 404-471-8372.

The CDC Vaccine Price Lists for general information can be found at this link.

This research was published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America 2017. This work is written by US Government employees.

Sub Title:

MenACWY vaccine has reduced meningococcal disease by 70%

References:

Current Epidemiology and Trends in Meningococcal Disease—United States, 1996-2015

Meningococcal Disease

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Alert for HIV Positive Men in LA

Don Hackett — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 12:29:31 +0000

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