Implementing a meningococcal B vaccination multimedia educational campaign for university students

Background

Meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) is the leading cause of potentially fatal meningococcal disease among U.S. older adolescents and young adults; college students are at increased risk. Although the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that healthy 16- to 23-year-olds may be vaccinated against MenB, MenB vaccination coverage is low.

Objective

This study investigated the impact of a comprehensive multimedia MenB vaccine educational campaign on 2-dose MenB vaccine series initiation among college students.

Methods

We implemented a 6-week-long (October 11, 2021-November 19, 2021) educational intervention via a prospective trial on a university campus (the intervention campus), including video broadcasting, student-led campus programming, and printed materials. The control campus was a different university in the same urban setting.

Results

During baseline period 1 (August 26, 2019-November 15, 2019), 2 students on the intervention campus and 3 students on the control campus initiated the MenB vaccination series; 1 student initiated the series on the intervention campus during baseline period 2 (August 27, 2021-October 8, 2021). At least 83 students were exposed to the campaign during the intervention period (October 11, 2021-November 19, 2021). No students initiated the MenB vaccination series during the intervention period, although 1 student completed the vaccination series.

Conclusion

The campaign did not influence MenB vaccination initiation on the university campus.