The New Generation of Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccines: Rationale and Global Potential

The first meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccines were deployed in the United Kingdom in 1999 in response to an increase in endemic meningococcal serogroup C disease that particularly affected adolescents. Between 1994 and 1999 deaths in adolescents due to serogroup C exceeded those due to serogroup B in the UK. By 1999 serogroup C was responsible for 34 % of meningococcal infections in the UK, compared to 25.8 % in 1994 (1). The effects of infant vaccination coupled with a large catch-up campaign targeting 12 month olds to 17 years olds was rapid and substantial, with reductions in disease incidence of more than 80% observed in most age groups within 18 months of implementation (2). Since then, serogroup C conjugate vaccines have been effectively introduced into routine vaccination schedules in some European countries such a