OBJECTIVE: To review the immunogenicity, efficacy, safety, and new recommendations for routine use of the tetravalent
meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4).

DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search (1966–June 2005) was conducted using the key words Neisseria meningitidis and
meningococcal vaccines for clinical trials limited to human research published in the English language.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Randomized, controlled, multicenter trials were reviewed and included to
evaluate the safety and efficacy of MCV4. Additional open-label trials on the use of MCV4 in children less than 24 months of age are
included since these studies may be used to support the approval of the vaccine for use in children. Literature on epidemiology and
pathology of meningococcal meningitis and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (AC IP) recommendations were also
reviewed.

DATA SYNTHESIS: MCV4 is approved for active immunization of adolescents and adults between the ages of 11 and 55 years for
the prevention of disease caused by N. meningitidisserogroups A, C, Y, and W-135. MCV4 has been shown to have comparable
immunogenicity and a similar adverse reaction profile to the tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (MPSV4). It is expected
that MCV4 will provide a longer duration of protection from meningococcal disease than MPSV4.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on published immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety data, as well as the recent recommendations by the ACIP for its routine use, MCV4 is the preferred meningococcal vaccine for persons between 11 and 55 years of age and should be included on pharmacy formularies.

KEY WORDS: meningococcal vaccines, Neisseria meningitidis.

Ann Pharmacother 2006;40:666-73.

Published Online, 7 Mar 2006, www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1G486

THIS ARTICLE IS APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
ACPE UNIVERSAL PROGRAM NUMBER: 407-000-06-008-H01