Meningococcal Group B Vaccine For The Prevention Of Invasive Meningococcal Disease Caused By Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup B

Irene Rivero-Calle,1,2 Peter Francis Raguindin,2 Jose Gómez-Rial,2 Carmen Rodriguez-Tenreiro,2 Federico Martinón-Torres1,2 1Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain; 2Genetics, Vaccines and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group (GENVIP), Hospital Clínico Universitario and Universidad de Santiago de Compostela (USC), Galicia, SpainCorrespondence: Federico Martinón-TorresTranslational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases Section, Pediatrics Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, Santiago de Compostela 15706, SpainEmail Federico.Martinon.Torres@sergas.esAbstract: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major public health concern because of its high case fatality, long-term morbidity, and potential to course with outbreaks. IMD caused by Nesseira meningitidis serogroup B has been predominant in different regions of the world like Europe and only recently broadly protective vaccines against B serogroup have become available. Two protein-based vaccines, namely 4CMenB (Bexsero®) and rLP2086 (Trumenba®) are currently licensed for use in different countries against MenB disease. These vaccines came from a novel technology on vaccine design (or antigen selection) using highly specific antigen targets identified through whole-genome sequence analysis. Moreover, it has the potential to confer protection against non-B meningococcus and against other Neisserial species such as gonococcus. Real-world data on the vaccine-use are rapidly accumulating from the UK and other countries which used the vaccine for control of outbreak or as part of routine immunization program, reiterating its safety and efficacy. Additional data on real-life effectiveness, long-term immunity, and eventual herd effects, including estimates on vaccine impact for cost-effectiveness assessment are further needed. Given the predominance of MenB in Europe and other parts of the world, these new vaccines are crucial for the prevention and public health control of the disease, and should be considered.Keywords: meningococcal disease, invasive meningococcal disease, meningococcal B, vaccine development, vaccine effectiveness, epidemiology