MENINGOCOCCAL A CONJUGATE VACCINE

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    Indications

    • Prevention of meningitis due to meningococcus A in countries of the African meningitis belt

    Composition, forms, route of administration

    • Inactivated bacterial vaccine, conjugated (Neisseria meningitidis group A)
    • Powder for injection, to be dissolved with the entire vial of the diluent supplied by the manufacturer
    • Vials of 10 doses of:
      • 5 micrograms of meningococcal A antigen per 0.5 ml dose for children aged 3 to 24 months
      • 10 micrograms of meningococcal A antigen per 0.5 ml dose for children from 1 year and adults up to 29 years
    • For deep IM injection, into the anterolateral part of the thigh in children < 2 years or into the deltoid muscle in children ≥ 2 years and adults

    Dosage and vaccination schedule

    • Child 3 to < 9 months: 2 doses of 0.5 ml, to be administered at least 8 weeks apart
    • Child 9 months and over: 0.5 ml single dose
    • Adult: 0.5 ml single dose

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer to patients with history of an allergic reaction to a previous injection of meningococcal vaccine.
    • Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness (minor infections are not contra-indications).
    • May cause: mild local reaction, mild fever.
    • Do not mix with other vaccines in the same syringe (inactivation of vaccines).
    • If administered simultaneously with other vaccines, use different syringes and injection sites.
    • Pregnancy: no contra-indication
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • Immunity lasts at least 27 months.
    • The WHO recommends this vaccine for routine vaccination in children aged 9 to 18 months, in catch-up or periodic campaigns in children from 1 year and in mass vaccination campaigns during outbreaks due to meningococcus A in children from 1 year and adults up to 29 years.

    Storage

     
    –  Do not freeze.
    • Powder: between 2 °C and 8 °C.
    • Diluent: a cold chain is not required for storage. However, at least 12 hours before reconstitution of the vaccine, the diluent must be refrigerated between 2 °C and 8 °C so that the diluent and lyophilised powder are at the same temperature: a temperature difference during reconstitution may reduce vaccine efficacy.
    • Reconstituted vaccine: up to 40 °C for 6 hours maximum.
    • Controlled temperature chain (CTC): during mass vaccination campaigns only, the 10 microgram vaccine can be stored in temperatures of up to 40 °C for a period of 4 days maximum. Any vaccine removed from the cold chain and not used within 4 days or exposed to temperatures > 40 °C must be discarded.