Download PDF
CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2022; 44(09): 901-906
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1757755
Febrasgo Position Statement

Vaccination for meningococcal disease

Number 9 – September 2022
Cecilia Maria Roteli-Martins 
Centro Universitário Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Santo André, SP Brazil.
,
Nilma Antas Neves 
Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
,
Valentino Antonio Magno 
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
,
Renato Kfouri 
Centro de Imunização Santa Joana, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Centro de Imunização ProMatre Paulista, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
   Permissions and Reprints

Key points

  • Update gynecologists and obstetricians on the importance and need for vaccination against meningococcal meningitis, raising awareness of the risk of invasive meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults, with positioning of the National Commission Specialized in Vaccines of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (Febrasgo) about the subject.

  • Show that meningococcal infection can result in serious diseases, such as meningitis and meningococcemia, and in Brazil, at least 2 out of 10 people with invasive meningococcal disease die from it. Furthermore, about 20% of survivors have permanent sequelae.

  • Present the different vaccines available and their characteristics, as well as the official recommendations in Brazil.

  • Emphasize that the protective efficacy of vaccines for ACWY serogroups declines over time when administered in childhood, and booster doses in adolescents and young adults are important.

  • Inform that in the Brazilian National Immunization Program (PNI), the meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccine is routinely available to 11- and 12-year-old adolescents.

  • Inform that meningococcal ACWY and B vaccines are available for different age groups in private vaccination clinics, as indicated in the package insert and recommended by scientific societies.

  • Present the best scientific evidence of vaccination against meningococcal meningitis in women and contribute to an up-to-date clinical practice.

  • Emphasize the importance of gynecologists discussing vaccination against meningococcal disease with adolescents, parents and legal guardians.

The National Commission Specialized in Vaccines of the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Associations (Febrasgo) endorses this document. The production of content is based on scientific evidence on the proposed theme and the results presented contribute to clinical practice.




Publication History

Article published online:
10 October 2022

© 2022. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil