Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 18, 2025
Opsono-Adherence Assay to Evaluate Functional Antibodies in Vaccine Development Against Bacillus anthracis and Other Encapsulated Pathogens
Published on: May 19, 2020
Implementation Experience With Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccines in the United States: Impact of a Nonroutine
Jaime Fergie1, Ashley Howard2, Liping Huang3
1From the Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, Texas.
Background:
Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease among US adolescents and young adults, accounting for 62% of cases in 16-23-year-olds in 2018. Since 2015, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended vaccination of healthy adolescents against MenB based on shared clinical decision-making (previously called "Category B" or individual clinical decision-making). However, MenB vaccine coverage and series completion rates remain low. Herein we examine implementation experience of adolescent MenB vaccination in the United States under this nonroutine ACIP recommendation.
Methods:
PubMed was searched for English-language articles published after 2015 examining MenB vaccination implementation in the United States. Studies reporting MenB vaccination awareness, coverage, knowledge of recommendations and implementation barriers or access disparities were included.
Results:
Identified studies provided evidence that ACIP's MenB vaccination recommendation is poorly understood and prone to misinterpretation by US healthcare providers. Parental awareness of MenB vaccines is low, and racial and socioeconomic disparities exist regarding vaccine receipt. Parents rely on providers to learn about MenB disease risk and benefits of vaccination, with provider recommendations carrying substantial weight in vaccination decisions.
Conclusions:
Five years of evidence regarding the MenB vaccination implementation experience suggest that the nonstandard recommendation for MenB vaccines is partly responsible for low vaccine coverage. Further, inconsistent implementation of ACIP recommendations could be limiting access to MenB vaccines. Providers need additional support and guidance to implement the shared clinical decision-making recommendation, in turn ensuring equitable access for vaccine-eligible adolescents to enable comprehensive protection against meningococcal disease.
Insights
Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccine recommendations are poorly understood by US healthcare providers, leading to low adolescent vaccination rates. Improved provider guidance is needed for equitable access and protection against MenB disease.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) causes the majority of invasive meningococcal disease in US adolescents and young adults.
- Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends MenB vaccination via shared clinical decision-making since 2015.
- Low MenB vaccine coverage and series completion rates persist despite recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the implementation experience of adolescent MenB vaccination in the US.
- To identify factors contributing to low MenB vaccine uptake.
- To understand challenges in implementing the ACIP MenB vaccination recommendation.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of PubMed for English-language articles published after 2015.
- Inclusion of studies on MenB vaccination awareness, coverage, knowledge, barriers, and disparities in the US.
- Analysis of implementation experiences under the nonroutine ACIP recommendation.
Main Results:
- The ACIP MenB vaccination recommendation is often misunderstood or misinterpreted by US healthcare providers.
- Parental awareness of MenB vaccines is low, with existing racial and socioeconomic disparities in vaccine receipt.
- Healthcare provider recommendations significantly influence parental decisions regarding MenB vaccination.
Conclusions:
- The nonstandard nature of the MenB vaccine recommendation contributes to low coverage.
- Inconsistent implementation and lack of provider support hinder equitable access to MenB vaccines.
- Enhanced provider guidance is crucial for improving adolescent vaccination rates and achieving comprehensive protection against meningococcal disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:51Vaccinations
01:19Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...