New vaccine against meningococcal B

World's first vaccination against meningococcal serogroup B

03/12/2013

Since 2 December, Elten have had the opportunity to vaccinate their children against meningococcal B (Neisseria meningitidis). These are intracellular bacteria, which are among the most common causes of meningitis and blood poisoning in children and infants. At the drug named „Bexsero“ The Novartis pharmaceutical company is the world's first meningococcal serogroup B vaccine - only meningococcal sera A, C, W, and Y vaccines were available.

Meningococcus type B is the most common cause of bacterial meningitis
According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin, there have been about 400 meningococcal infections every year since 2008, with mainly infants and adolescents being affected. Although the number of cases is relatively low, the risk of infection should not be underestimated, as it continues to be fatal for every tenth affected person. The background: Type B meningococci can cause severe meningitis, the so-called „meningitis“ which is often accompanied by high fever, headache, dizziness, chills and photosensitivity. Particularly dangerous is that it can come through the bacteria to septicemia (sepsis), which leads in severe cases to amputations of fingers, toes, arms or legs.

Especially often children and infants are affected
Meningococci type B are the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in Germany. Although the disease can in principle occur in every age group, especially babies, children and adolescents are affected, just under half of the patients are under four years old. According to the Association of Pediatricians (BVKJ), vaccination is therefore an important step in terms of protecting children: „We paediatricians can now protect the most vulnerable infants - but also children and adolescents from this serious illness. [...] So far, unfortunately, we had no way to prevent this dangerous infection. And just because the disease is so sudden and can lead to death within a day, we are very happy that we can now offer this vaccine protection to parents and their children“, so Dr. Thomas Fischbach, board member of the professional association.

Vaccination already possible from the 3rd month of life
According to the BVKJ, the vaccination can be carried out from the third month of life. After every four weeks, however, it must be repeated twice and refreshed after the second birthday. According to the BVKJ, some health insurances would pay for the costs, among them BKK exclusiv, BKK firmus, BKK MERCK and BKK Technoform. Parents should, however, on the advice of dr. Ask Thomas Fischbach in advance exactly at your health insurance, whether the costs would actually be accepted.

Saxon Vaccination Commission recommends vaccine from 1 January 2014
From the perspective of the Professional Association of Paediatricians, the new vaccination is a new milestone in medicine: „We paediatricians have been waiting for this vaccine for a long time. The vaccination against meningococcal C recommended by the Standing Vaccination Commission has already contributed to a decrease in meningitis cases. About two-thirds of all meningococcal diseases in Germany are caused by Group B pathogens. In this respect, we expect the introduction of this vaccine, which will be recommended in Saxony by the Saxon Vaccination Commission from 1.01.2014, a further significant decline in these diseases“, so Dr. Thomas Fischbach, who is also a member of the representative meeting (VV) of the Kassenärztliche Bundesvereinigung.

Judgment of the Robert Koch Institute is pending
To what extent the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) will recommend the new vaccine is still pending. She had set up a collaboration with a research group at the University of Bristol to review the epidemiological as well as health economic effects with regard to a possible vaccination recommendation. The background: Although it is a serious disease with high lethality, but “the number of cases [.] has been steadily decreasing since 2003 without vaccination”, so the RKI. In addition, it is a completely new active ingredient. (No)