EVALUATION OF GROUP C MENINGOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE VACCINE IN MARINE RECRUITS, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

Devine, L. F., W. E. Pierce, T. M. Floyd, S. L. Rhode, E. A. Edwards, E. E. Siess and R. O. Peckinpaugh (Naval Medical Research Unit No. 4, Great Lakes, Illinois 60088). Evaluation of group C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine in Marine recruits, San Diego, California. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 92; 25–32.—Group C meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine was administered to 3, 018 Marine recruits. The vaccine appeared to be group-specific since it prevented the acquisition of only group C meningococci. The vaccine stimulated a good hemagglutinating antibody response, but did not stimulate a complement fixing antibody response. One systemic illness of uncertain etiology, possibly vaccine related, was observed among the vaccinees. That the vaccine affords protection against clinical disease was suggested when three cases of meningococcal disease of group C etiology developed in the nonvaccinated controls while none occurred among the vaccinated men of the study population.