A Narrative Review of College Meningococcal Vaccination Mandates Across the United States

In the United States, adolescents and young adults between the ages of 16 and 23 have high rates of serogroup B meningococcal infections due to an elevated risk for those attending college. This review examines meningococcal vaccination requirements and recommendations for college students in the United States, with a focus on state-level mandates. National stakeholder resources, state legislatures, and official state Department of Health and Department of Education websites were analyzed for each state and Washington, DC. Overall, 26 states mandate MenACWY vaccination for college entry, whereas only 2 have specific requirements for MenB vaccination. Among the six states with the largest state university campus enrollments, half mandate MenACWY vaccination for college students, whereas none mandate MenB. By region, the Northeast had the highest percentage of states with a MenACWY requirement for college entry (77.8%) followed by the South (64.7%), Midwest (41.7%), and West (23.1%). Further research is needed to elucidate the relationship between state mandates and coverage to aid in optimizing meningococcal vaccination for college students.