MJA
MJA

Trends in meningococcal disease: challenges for vaccine control when disease is rare

Andrew J Pollard and Hannah Christensen
Med J Aust 2017; 207 (9): . || doi: 10.5694/mja17.00514
Published online: 6 November 2017

The clinical, social and economic value of vaccination varies both with time and by population group

In most wealthy and in many middle income countries, capsular group B Neisseria meningitidis (MenB) remains an important cause of invasive disease, particularly in the era of control of other major bacterial pathogens, such as MenC, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and vaccine-type pneumococcus. Two new MenB vaccines1,2 (now licensed in many countries) provide the potential for a comprehensive approach to controlling these invasive bacterial pathogens. However, decisions about vaccination at the population level are complex when there are low rates of disease: cost-effectiveness is a particularly important factor.3

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