Vaccination Against Meningococcal Disease in Children-A European Perspective

Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a severe disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. The highest incidence is seen in children. The epidemiology of IMD is unpredictable and varies over time by country, age and serogroup, and IMD surveillance is pivotal for vaccine recommendations. The incidence of IMD has declined in recent years, partly due to vaccination, but some countries like France are experiencing the highest case numbers in years. Efficient meningococcal vaccines with good safety profiles are available. Including meningococcal vaccines in national immunisation programmes should be considered in all European countries, and surveillance of N. meningitidis strains should be continued.