Description
The meningococcal vaccine is an essential tool for improving the nation’s health and preventing numerous diseases. It protects individuals against a fifth type (or type B) meningococcal bacterium (Kassianos et al., 2023). It is mainly recommended for protecting children, as this pathogen is associated with 9 of every 10 meningococcal infections in young children (Kassianos et al., 2023). For this reason, it is a potent tool for controlling babies’ health.
Recommendations
The current recommendations state that children aged 2-9 years should receive 2 doses of the MebB vaccine spaced 8 weeks apart. The schedule might also alter depending on the vaccine used. Adolescents and young adults from 16 to 23 years may also be vaccinated.
There are also specific recommendations for children in the catch-up cohort. They remain eligible for the same vaccine until they reach 2 years old (“Meningococcal B programme,” n.d.). It is vital to control the specific schedule to ensure higher immunization efficiency. Candidates for vaccination should be screened to determine whether they have allergies to the substance, as this would make the second part of the vaccination (“Meningococcal B immunisation,” n.d.) risky. Additional consultation with the clinician might be required.
It is also necessary to control the temperature and the overall health status. If the signs of any disease are present, it is recommended to postpone the intervention. Children might also develop a fever after immunization, which is the most common adverse effect (“Meningococcal B immunisation,” n.d.). When working with parents who prefer not to vaccinate, it is recommended to warn them that most infections a child acquires are associated with the specific pathogen. The procedure will help to reduce the pressure on his/her immune system. For those selecting an alternate vaccination schedule, it is critical to note that the highest effectiveness can be attained only by following the prescribed guidelines.
References
Kassianos, G., Barasheed, O., Abbing-Karahagopian, V., Khalaf, M., Ozturk, S., Banzhoff, A., & Badur, S. (2023). Meningococcal B immunisation in adults and potential broader immunisation strategies: A narrative review. Infectious diseases and therapy, 12(9), 2193–2219.
Meningococcal B immunisation programme: Factsheet for healthcare professionals. (n.d.). Public Health Agency.
