South Africa recommends the use of meningococcal vaccines

The need for routine vaccination against meningococcal disease in South Africa is controversial given the current burden of disease. However, due to the high morbidity/mortality of meningococcal disease, the authors recommend that clinicians consider vaccination of healthy infants and children; HIV-infected persons with a CD4 count > 25%; students attending college /university /military academies; and miners.Further, the authors conclude that a protein-conjugated meningococcal vaccine is preferable to the polysaccharide vaccine given the ability of the protein-conjugated meningococcal vaccine to induce immune memory, allow for booster responses and eliminate carriage of the organism in the person vaccinated. Read the recommendations.