An overview of the meningococcal disease and impact of the quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, which are the three membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord; which occurs when the fluid surrounding the meninges becomes infected. Meningitis is a life-threatening disease, particularly in older people and immunocompromised cases. The estimated annual numbers of meningitis cases in the industrialized countries are about 4-6 cases per 100,000 people. Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitides, which have A; C, Y, and W-135 serogroups. Immunization helps to protect the humans from infection, such as the meningococcal vaccine that protects from infection by A; C, Y, and W-135 serogroups. Meningococcal conjugate vaccines improve the immunogenicity potential, to prevent meningococcal disease. Several previous studies have documented the decrease in post-vaccination effectiveness induced by the meningococcal vaccines. However, effectiveness requires revaccination after a period of time from the first vaccination. The purposes of this article were to provide an overview of the meningitis disease, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine.