Authors' objectives:

This report aims to review the effect, intensity and duration of the immune response to meningococcal serogroup C vaccine, and also its efficacy and effectiveness.

Authors' recommendations: Group C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is a safe product. Its efficacy is over 85% among adults and children over 5 years old, 70% under 5 years old, and 55% among children 2-3 years old. The vaccine is not effective under 2 years. The duration of protective antibody levels decrease with age. The proportion of vaccinated children effectively protected one year after vaccination is low. Vaccination does not affect the immune response to ulterior revaccination in cildren over 2 years old. Group C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is indicated in adults and children over 2 years old to protect them from meningococcal disease due to group C when exposed to high risk of infection. The outbreaks control is the main indication for the use of this vaccine. Routine immunization in non-outbreak situations is not recommended due to the small vaccine protection in children under 2 years old, the limited efficacy in chidren under 5, and the short duration of the immunity in children.

Authors' methods: Review

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.isciii.es/aets

Year Published: 1997

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Spain

Organisation Name: Agencia de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias

Contact Address: Instituto de Salud "Carlos III", Calle Sinesio Delgado 6, Pabellon 4, 28029 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 9 1 822 2005; Fax: +34 9 1 387 7841;

Contact Name: Luis M. Sánchez Gómez

Contact Email: luism.sanchez@isciii.es

Copyright: Agencia de Evaluacion de Tecnologias Sanitarias (AETS)