Pediatr. praxi. 2021;22(6):390-392 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2021.084

Advances in vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease in the Czech Republic

MUDr. Pavla Křížová, CSc.

Národní referenční laboratoř pro meningokokové nákazy

Centrum epidemiologie a mikrobiologie, Státní zdravotní ústav, Praha

Even at a time of progress in medicine, invasive meningococcal disease is among the most serious infectious diseases with high case fatality rates and a high proportion of severe lifelong consequences in the survivors. Vaccination is the best method of preventing this disease. In the Czech Republic, age-specific morbidity of invasive meningococcal disease in infants under one year of age has long been at high levels, with the second and third risk groups being adolescents aged 15 to 19 years and children aged 1 to 4 years, respectively. For vaccination against invasive meningococcal disease, two tetravalent conjugate vaccines containing antigens of four meningococcal serogroups, A, C, W, and Y, and two recombinant meningococcal vaccines containing serogroup B antigens (MenB vaccines) are available in the Czech Republic. To achieve the broadest possible immunity against invasive meningococcal disease, the combination of conjugate ACWY vaccine and MenB vaccine is recommended. Since 1 January 2018, vaccination against invasive meningococcal infections has been reimbursed for insured persons with immune disorders. Since 1 May 2020, vaccination of young children against invasive meningococcal disease has been fully reimbursed. In September 2021, vaccination of adolescents against invasive meningococcal disease was approved to be included in reimbursed vaccinations.

Keywords: invazivní meningokokové onemocnění, doporučené očkování, bezplatné očkování, očkování malých dětí, očkování adolescentů, konjugovaná vakcína A, C, W, Y, MenB vakcína.

Published: November 24, 2021  Show citation