Meningitis vaccine recommended for three groups of young people
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《英国医生杂志》
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended the use of a new vaccine against meningitis for three groups of young people: children between 11 and 12 years old, students entering high school, and new students at college who will be living in student accommodation. The American Academy of Pediatrics also released similar recommendations.
The new meningitis vaccine, MCV4, was approved in January by the US Food and Drug Administration and offers protection for seven to eight years against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135.
Another vaccine that was previously available conferred immunity that lasted only three to five years. The availability of the improved vaccine was one reason cited for the CDC抯 embrace of these new recommendations. Both vaccines are about 85% effective, however.
The new vaccine does not protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B bacteria. Haemophilus influenzae type b disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children younger than 5 years old until vaccination for all infants was introduced in the late 1980s.
"This new vaccine can help protect adolescents and college students from meningococcal disease," said Stephen Cochi, acting director of the CDC抯 national immunisation programme.
The meningitis vaccine recommendations are designated for 11 to 12 year olds at routine doctor checkups; 15 year olds or those entering high school, because they抮e becoming more socially active and exposed to more germs; and college students who are going to live in student accommodation, because disease spreads easily among people at close quarters.
Only a single shot is necessary. Health officials are not recommending the shot for all teenagers because of limited vaccine supplies.
The vaccine, made by French drug maker Sanofi Pasteur and sold under the brand name Menactra, is available in the United States at most doctors?offices. It typically costs patients about $100 (?5; �81), but because it is being recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, its cost is likely to be covered by most health insurance plans.(Scott Gottlieb)
The new meningitis vaccine, MCV4, was approved in January by the US Food and Drug Administration and offers protection for seven to eight years against meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135.
Another vaccine that was previously available conferred immunity that lasted only three to five years. The availability of the improved vaccine was one reason cited for the CDC抯 embrace of these new recommendations. Both vaccines are about 85% effective, however.
The new vaccine does not protect against meningococcal disease caused by serogroup B bacteria. Haemophilus influenzae type b disease was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in children younger than 5 years old until vaccination for all infants was introduced in the late 1980s.
"This new vaccine can help protect adolescents and college students from meningococcal disease," said Stephen Cochi, acting director of the CDC抯 national immunisation programme.
The meningitis vaccine recommendations are designated for 11 to 12 year olds at routine doctor checkups; 15 year olds or those entering high school, because they抮e becoming more socially active and exposed to more germs; and college students who are going to live in student accommodation, because disease spreads easily among people at close quarters.
Only a single shot is necessary. Health officials are not recommending the shot for all teenagers because of limited vaccine supplies.
The vaccine, made by French drug maker Sanofi Pasteur and sold under the brand name Menactra, is available in the United States at most doctors?offices. It typically costs patients about $100 (?5; �81), but because it is being recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, its cost is likely to be covered by most health insurance plans.(Scott Gottlieb)