Meningococcal vaccines in Canada: An update

Meningococcal infection is serious, often resulting in fulminant sepsis or meningitis. There are two main types of meningococcal conjugate vaccine currently available in Canada: serotype C meningococcal conjugate, and quadrivalent conjugate for serotypes A, C, Y, and W-135. The immunological characteristics that inform ongoing immunization policies, as well as some of the limits of current knowledge, are presented. All Canadian children should receive a conjugate meningococcal C vaccine (MCV-C) at 12 months of age, and either a booster dose of MCV-C or of quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (MCV-4) in adolescence. Children at high risk of invasive meningococcal disease should start MCV-C at two months of age, and be given MCV-4 at two years of age.