Meningococcal C Vaccination Guidelines

Introduction to Meningococcal C Vaccination

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccines (MenACWY) for broader protection against multiple serogroups, including C 1, 2

For high-risk children aged 2-18 months, a 4-dose primary series of Hib-MenCY-TT is recommended at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months 2
For high-risk children aged 9-23 months with complement deficiencies, a 2-dose series of MenACWY-D with doses 12 weeks apart is recommended 2
For children aged 2-10 years with risk factors, a single dose of MenACWY (either MenACWY-D or MenACWY-CRM) is recommended 1
Routine vaccination is recommended at age 11-12 years with a booster at age 16 years 1, 2
If the first dose is given at age 16 years or older, no booster is needed 2
College freshmen living in residence halls should receive MenACWY if not vaccinated within 5 years 1

For individuals aged 9 months to 55 years, a 2-dose primary series of MenACWY 8-12 weeks apart is recommended 2
For individuals aged 2-18 months, a 4-dose primary series of Hib-MenCY-TT is recommended 2
Booster doses are recommended every 5 years; if the primary series was received before age 7, the first booster is recommended at 3 years 2

Individuals visiting the meningitis belt of sub-Saharan Africa during the dry season (December-June) should be vaccinated 2
Children aged 9-23 months can receive a second dose as early as 8 weeks after the first dose before travel 2
A booster dose is needed if the last dose was ≥5 years ago 2

MenACWY vaccines (MenACWY-D, MenACWY-CRM, or MenACWY-TT) are interchangeable 3
Conjugate vaccines are preferred over polysaccharide vaccines due to longer duration of protection and potential for herd immunity 2, 4
Conjugate vaccines induce stronger immune responses than polysaccharide vaccines, especially in young children 4

Polysaccharide vaccines should not be used in young children due to limited efficacy of short duration 4
MenACWY-D should not be used before age 2 years in children with asplenia, as it may interfere with pneumococcal vaccine response 2
Hib-MenCY-TT does not provide complete protection for travelers, as it does not protect against serogroups A and W-135 2

Separate MenB vaccines are available for protection against serogroup B disease 3
MenB vaccination is recommended for persons aged ≥10 years with complement deficiencies, asplenia, or during outbreaks 3

The implementation of meningococcal conjugate vaccine programs has significantly reduced the incidence of invasive meningococcal disease, with evidence of both direct protection and herd immunity in countries with high vaccination coverage 2