Rego Romero E, Nartallo Penas V, Taboada Rodríguez JA, Malvar Pintos A, Hervada Vidal X, López Pimentel MJ. Implementation and impact of a meningococcal C conjugate vaccination program in 13- to 25-year-old individuals in Galicia, Spain.
ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011;
19:409-415. [PMID:
21957332 PMCID:
PMC3172415 DOI:
10.1007/s10389-011-0403-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Background
In response to increased case numbers of meningococcal group C disease, catch-up vaccination strategies have been shown to be successful. This paper describes the results of a repeat vaccination program in Galicia, Spain, and the strategy used for it.
Methods and results
Three vaccination waves were performed: first, in 1996/1997 with a meningococcal group A and C polysaccharide vaccine in individuals aged 18 months to 19 years; second, in 2000 with a conjugate serogroup C polysaccharide vaccine in children born since 1993 and all children and adolescents up to 19 years not previously vaccinated; third, a campaign in 2006 that became necessary because of the development of a new Neisseria strain and an increase in both the incidence and lethality of meningococcal C disease. The conjugate vaccine de-O-acetylated group C meningococcal polysaccharide coupled to tetanus toxoid was used (GCMP-TT; brand name, NeisVac-C). Results: Applying a strategy based on model calculations derived from the UK setting and focusing on a population aged 13–25 years, including students, employees of companies, and underage individuals, a total of 286,000 subjects were vaccinated, resulting in global vaccination coverage of 82.2% (all age groups over 74%). Only 17 adverse events in 17 individuals were reported, which all were mild. Incidence of meningococcal disease serogroup C by season was reduced from 0.84 cases per 100,000 in 2004/05 to 0.76 cases per 100,000 in 2005/2006 to 0.18/100,000 in 2007/08. In parallel, mortality was also decreased from 8 cases during 2005/06 (0.29 per 100,000) to 1 case in 2007/2008 (0.03 per 100,000). No cases of breakthrough disease occurred in the vaccinated population.
Conclusion
In Galicia, a series of vaccination campaigns, particularly focusing on high-risk groups, has shown high effectiveness, with a marked reduction in the disease incidence in the vaccination cohort accompanied by a relevant reduction in the overall population.
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