Meningococcal B vaccine co-administration in older adolescents and young adults and potential missed opportunities for vaccination in the United States: a retrospective claims database analysis.

Background: In the United States (US), meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) vaccination is currently recommended under shared clinical decision-making for 16-23-year-olds to prevent invasive meningococcal disease; the MenB vaccine may be co-administered with other vaccines recommended for this age group.

Research design and methods: A retrospective analysis of two US health insurance claims databases was conducted to estimate the proportion of commercially insured and Medicaid-insured 16-23-year-olds with potential missed opportunities for MenB vaccine series initiation via co-administration. Potential missed opportunities were defined as visits with healthcare providers during which other recommended vaccines (MenACWY, Tdap, HPV, influenza, and/or COVID-19) were administered, but not the initial MenB vaccine dose.

Results: In 2022, 74.5% of commercially insured and 67.1% of Medicaid-insured 16-23-year-olds had potential missed opportunities for MenB vaccination initiation via co-administration. The proportion of missed opportunities was higher among 19-23-year-olds (versus 16-18-year-olds) and lower for visits with pediatricians (versus internists or general practitioners/family physicians). The most frequently co-administered vaccine was the MenACWY vaccine.

Conclusions: Many 16-23-year-olds had potential missed opportunities for MenB series initiation via co-administration. Increasing awareness of the opportunity to initiate the MenB series via co-administration may improve meningococcal vaccination coverage in the US.