Recent advances in the prevention of meningococcal B disease: Real evidence from 4CMenB vaccination

Objectives The 4CMenB vaccine confers protection against serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease (MenB IMD). Licensed worldwide based on immunogenicity and safety data, we now have data on its effectiveness and impact. We have exhaustively reviewed all the evidence gathered in the real world since the vaccine was licensed. Results Data from 7 countries provide evidence of effectiveness and impact in different settings and age groups, including national/regional immunisation programmes, observational studies, and outbreak control. The administration of at least 2 doses of 4CMenB reduced IMD by 50–100% in individuals from 2 months to 20 years of age. Estimation of the effectiveness of the vaccine in fully vaccinated cohorts ranged from 59 to 100%. The real-world safety profile of 4CMenB corresponded with the data from the clinical trials undertaken prior to its licensing. Conclusion MenB IMD is a rare but potentially fatal disease, with unpredictable epidemiology. The data on the effectiveness and impact data of 4CMenB support its use in the prevention of IMD. The results underline the importance of directly protecting the groups most at risk: infants/young children and adolescents. Direct protection through systematic immunisation in infancy (with salvage in young children) and systematic immunisation in adolescents could constitute the preferred model for the control of MenB disease. A Video Abstract linked to this article is available on Figshare: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare .