Protection against Meningococcal Infection from the First Months of Life and without Age Restrictions — the Response to Modern Epidemiological Challenges

Children with generalized form of meningococcal infection (GFMI) have a high risk of developing life-threatening conditions and fatal outcomes within 24 hours of the onset of the first symptoms, even with timely treatment. Children under the age of 5 contribute significantly to the mortality rate of GFMI, which is six times higher than the national mortality rate. Data from 2010 to 2022 show that 73% of all cases of GFMI in infants under 9 months of age occur before the age of 9 months. This highlights the need to shift the start of meningococcal vaccination to an earlier age, starting from 6 weeks of life. In the Russian Federation, the MenQuadfi vaccine (MenACWY-TT, Sanofi) is registered, which contains antigens of the most common meningococcal strains A, C, W, and Y. Modern molecular technologies were used in the development of the vaccine, which allowed for increased immunogenicity while maintaining a favorable safety profile, including when used in combination with vaccines against 15 infections, resulting in a rapid and pronounced response on days 6–7 after vaccination and revaccination, as well as an extended duration of immune protection of up to 7–10 years, with expanded age-related applicability for children from 6 weeks of age, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The results of 23 international studies (including Russian studies) confirm that the new MenACWY-TT vaccine fully meets the criteria for selecting vaccines for routine immunization against meningococcal infection and can provide long-lasting effective protection against GFMI from an early age.