Optimal use of meningococcal serogroup B vaccines: moving beyond outbreak control

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis is a major cause of meningitis and septicemia globally. Vaccines directed against N. meningitidis serogroup B (MenB) have been used to control sporadic and sustained disease in industrialized and non-industrialized countries. Early outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines effectively reduced MenB disease in countries such as Norway, New Zealand, and France; however, these vaccines were highly specific for their targeted outbreak strain, did not elicit a durable immune response, and were ineffective for widespread use due to the diversity of MenB-disease-causing isolates. Recently developed recombinant protein-based MenB vaccines that target conserved surface proteins have the potential to induce a broader immune response against the diversity of disease-causing strains. Given the deleterious consequences and sporadic nature of MenB disease, the use of optimal vaccination strategies is crucial for prevention. Reactive vaccination strategies used in the past have significant limitations, including delayed implementation, substantial use of resources, and time constraints. The broad coverage potential of recombinant protein-based MenB vaccines suggests that routine use could result in a reduced burden of disease. Despite this, routine use of MenB vaccines is currently limited in practice.