New recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) regarding the MenB vaccine for adolescents are generating significant discussion among scientists. The updated advice suggests a potentially more efficient approach to protecting teenagers, particularly those who received the vaccine during infancy as part of the UK's national programme.
Professor Hannah Christensen, Professor in Infectious Disease Epidemiology at the University of Bristol, who led the modelling work for these recommendations, highlighted that while meningococcal disease is rare, its impact can be devastating. Recent evidence has allowed researchers to update their models, which now consider the effectiveness of vaccination in light of the UK's infant MenB vaccination programme, initiated in 2015. As these vaccinated cohorts now approach their teenage years, a single booster dose could be sufficient to enhance their existing protection.
The Bristol team developed mathematical models to evaluate the outcomes and cost-effectiveness of two MenB vaccine schedules: a one-dose option for teenagers already primed in infancy, and a two-dose schedule for those without prior vaccination. Professor Christensen noted that manufacturer data indicates a single dose in previously vaccinated teenagers could provide protection comparable to two doses in individuals not vaccinated as babies. This single-dose approach significantly alters the value-for-money proposition, making it a more efficient strategy.
Furthermore, recent observational evidence has indicated that vaccines designed to protect against meningococcal disease might also offer cross-protection against gonorrhoea, a closely related bacterium. If confirmed, this potential additional benefit would further improve the cost-effectiveness and public health impact of a MenB vaccination programme in adolescents, as demonstrated by the revised models.
The findings from these updated models, incorporating the latest evidence, are considered 'exciting' by Professor Christensen, suggesting a pathway to protect teenagers more effectively and efficiently. The potential for a single dose to be adequate for many young people, due to their infant priming, could lead to a more streamlined and economically viable vaccination strategy for the UK.