Practice Guidelines: ACIP Issues Revised Recommendations on Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine - November 1, 2007

November 1, 2007 Table of Contents

Practice Guideline Briefs

ACIP Issues Revised Recommendations on Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine

Am Fam Physician.�2007�Nov�1;76(9):1402.

Guideline source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

Literature search described? No

Evidence rating system used? No

Published source: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 10, 2007

Available at: http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5631a3.htm

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its recommendations on vaccination with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4; Menactra). All persons 11 to 18 years of age should be routinely vaccinated with one dose of MCV4 as early as possible. ACIP continues to recommend routine vaccination for persons 19 to 55 years of age who are at increased risk for meningococcal disease: college freshmen living in dormitories, microbiologists routinely exposed to isolates of Neisseria meningitidis, military recruits, travelers to or residents of countries in which N. meningitidis meningitis is hyperendemic or epidemic, persons with terminal complement component deficiencies, and persons with anatomic or functional asplenia.

Supply of MCV4 was limited in 2005 and 2006 because demand for the vaccine peaked in months when children were returning to school after summer vacation. As a result of the new recommendations, ACIP now expects supply of MCV4 to be sufficient to meet demand. ACIP encourages physicians to vaccinate with MCV4 throughout the year to minimize seasonal increases in demand during July and August. MCV4 and tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine should be given to persons 11 to 18 years of age during the same visit if both vaccines are indicated.

CARRIE ARMSTRONG

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