Study shows Bexsero vaccine effective against Meningococcal Disease- GlaxoSmithKline

Preliminary data from the world�s first national meningitis B immunisation programme with Bexsero vaccine, from GlaxoSmithKline, launched one year ago in the UK, shows the estimated effectiveness of the vaccine at 83 percent against any meningitis B strain and 94 percent against vaccine preventable strains, for all children receiving the first two of three recommended doses. Reported cases of the disease have dropped 50 percent in the vaccine-eligible population in the first ten months of the programme, compared to the average number of cases over the last four years. These data were presented by Public Health England (PHE) at the International Pathogenic Neisseria Conference.

Comment: Bexsero is currently the only meningococcal B vaccine licensed in Europe. The UK national immunisation programme is the first such programme for the prevention of meningitis B in the world. Infants are immunised at two and four months of age, with a booster dose at 12 months, outside of the licensed dosing schedule, but in line with recommendations issued by the UK advisory body on immunisation. The data presented today demonstrate the immediate impact on meningococcal B disease rates in the eligible population following two doses of the vaccine. More data are expected as the first infants from the programme receive their booster dose later this year.