Meningococcal Groups A, C, Y, and W-135 Vaccine
Class: Vaccines
ATC Class: J07AH01
VA Class: IM100
Brands: Menactra, MenQuadfi, Menveo
Introduction
Inactivated (polysaccharide) vaccine. Commercially available in US as 3 different quadrivalent conjugated (MenACWY) vaccines: meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) polysaccharide diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-D; Menactra), meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) oligosaccharide diphtheria CRM197 conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-CRM; Menveo), and meningococcal (groups A, C, Y and W-135) polysaccharide tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (MenACWY-TT; MenQuadfi). Each contains A, C, Y, and W-135 capsular polysaccharide antigens extracted from Neisseria meningitidis linked to a carrier protein.
Uses for Meningococcal Groups A, C, Y, and W-135 Vaccine
Prevention of Meningococcal Infection
Prevention of meningococcal infection caused by N. meningitidis serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 in adults, adolescents, children, and infants ≥2 months of age.
N. meningitidis can cause invasive meningococcal disease that usually presents as severe and potentially life-threatening meningitis and/or meningococcemia with abrupt onset; transmitted person to person by the respiratory route. In the US, N. meningitidis serogroups B, C, and Y cause most cases of meningococcal disease and serogroup W-135 causes a small percentage of cases; approximately 60% of cases in individuals ≥24 years of age are caused by serogroups C, Y, or W-135. Although overall incidence of meningococcal disease in the US has been historically low during the last 10–15 years (about 329 cases reported to CDC during 2018), overall case fatality rate has remained 10–15% (even with appropriate anti-infective treatment) and fatality rate can be higher in those with meningococcemia. In addition, long-term sequelae (e.g., hearing loss, neurologic disability, digit or limb amputations) reported in up to 20% of patients. While 95% of US cases of meningococcal disease are sporadic, localized outbreaks do occur and most outbreaks have been caused by serogroups B and C.
CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), AAP, and others recommend routine vaccination against meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 infection using MenACWY vaccine in all adolescents, preferably at 11 through 12 years of age, followed by a booster dose at 16 years of age. Catch-up vaccination recommended at 13 through 18 years of age for those not previously vaccinated; catch-up vaccination also recommended for all first-year college students living in residence halls who did not receive a dose of MenACWY vaccine on or after their 16th birthday.
ACIP, AAP, and others also recommend routine primary and booster vaccination against meningococcal serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135 infection using age-appropriate MenACWY vaccine in selected infants, children, adolescents, and adults at increased risk because of certain chronic medical conditions or treatment (e.g., persistent complement component deficienci...
