[Meningococcal B (4CMenB) vaccine : uptodate and recommendations]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Vaccinology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Neisseria meningitidis causes rare but severe invasive infections.
• Meningococcus B is the most prevalent serogroup in Western countries.
• Existing vaccines cover serogroups A, C, W, and Y.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the latest data on the new meningococcus B vaccine.
• To assess its immunogenicity, safety, and impact on invasive meningococcal disease.
• To discuss its potential role in public health strategies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized reverse vaccinology for vaccine development, based on complete genome sequencing.
• Reviewed studies on vaccine immunogenicity in target populations (children and teenagers).
• Examined data on efficacy, safety, and impact on pharyngeal carriage.

Main Results:

• The meningococcus B vaccine demonstrates good immunogenicity in children and teenagers.
• Beneficial effects on invasive meningococcal infection incidence are observed in England.
• The vaccine has a reassuring toxicity profile with common side effects.

Conclusions:

• The new meningococcus B vaccine represents a significant advancement in preventing serogroup B infections.
• Further investigation is required regarding the duration of protection and effects on pharyngeal carriage.
• While recommended for individual protection, collective vaccination is not yet advised in Belgium.