Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Meningococcal B Vaccination Since the 2015 Recommendation: A Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Current US immunization schedules recommend routine meningococcal vaccines (A, C, W, Y) for adolescents and serogroup B (MenB) vaccines under shared clinical decision-making (SCDM).
• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is revising adolescent meningococcal vaccine recommendations.
• Understanding stakeholder perspectives is crucial for improving vaccination coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding meningococcal vaccination among adolescents, parents, and healthcare providers.
• To identify barriers to meningococcal vaccination, particularly concerning MenB vaccines and SCDM.
• To inform potential revisions of the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule.

Main Methods:

• A targeted literature search was conducted.
• A narrative review of survey-based studies published since the 2015 MenB recommendation was performed.
• Evidence on stakeholder knowledge, attitudes, and practices was consolidated.

Main Results:

• Persistent knowledge gaps exist regarding invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) risks, MenB vaccines, and SCDM among patients, parents, and healthcare providers.
• Shared clinical decision-making for MenB vaccination may not be consistently implemented.
• Stakeholder awareness of IMD and MenB is insufficient.

Conclusions:

• Simplifying the meningococcal vaccination schedule could enhance protection for US adolescents and young adults against IMD.
• Increased public and provider awareness regarding IMD and MenB vaccines is necessary.
• Addressing knowledge gaps is essential for effective implementation of meningococcal vaccination strategies.