Published online July 1, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 2 August 2005, pp. 496-505 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1314)
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POLICY STATEMENT

Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease: Recommendations for Use of Meningococcal Vaccines in Pediatric Patients

Committee on Infectious Diseases

Two peaks in the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) occur in pediatric patients: infants younger than 1 year and adolescents 15 to 18 years of age. Although the incidence of IMD is highest in infants, the case-fatality rate is highest in adolescents (~20%). Epidemiologic studies also have demonstrated increased risk of IMD among college freshman living in dormitories compared with other college students and similarly aged persons in the general population. At least 75% of cases of IMD in 11- to 18-year-olds are caused by serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135; thus, IMD potentially is preventable by immunization with quadrivalent meningococcal vaccines. Meningococcal A, C, Y, W-135 conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was licensed in 2005 for use in people 11 to 55 years of age. On the basis of data indicating increased risk of meningococcal disease and fatality among certain adolescents and college students, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends administration of MCV4 to young adolescents (at the 11- to 12-year visit), students entering high school or 15-year-olds, and college freshmen who will be living in dormitories. For pediatric patients 11 years and older who are at increased risk of meningococcal disease, MCV4 also is recommended. The purposes of this statement are to provide the rationale for routine use of MCV4 in adolescents and to update recommendations for use of the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in pediatric patients.

Key Words: meningococcal disease

Abbreviations: IMD, invasive meningococcal disease • CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention • AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics • MPSV4, tetravalent meningococcal (A, C, Y, W-135) polysaccharide vaccine • FDA, Food and Drug Administration • MCV4, tetravalent meningococcal (A, C, Y, W-135) conjugate vaccine • SBA, serum bactericidal activity • rSBA, serum bactericidal assay using baby rabbit serum • GMT, geometric mean titer • Td, adult-type diphtheria and tetanus toxoids • OMP, outer membrane protein


The following policy statement has been revised:

Meningococcal Disease Prevention and Control Strategies for Practice-Based Physicians (Addendum: Recommendations for College Students)

Pediatrics 106: 1500-1504. [Full Text]



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