Expand meningococcal vaccination coverage, ACIP panel says.(Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)

ATLANTA -- All adolescents and college freshmen living in dormitories should be routinely vaccinated with quadrivalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine, according to a meningococcal work group of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The proposals were made in anticipation of U.S. licensure this fall of a quadrivalent conjugate meningococcal vaccine (MCV-4) for individuals aged 11-55 years. None of the proposals were made unanimously, and they will be discussed further at the October ACIP meeting.

The work group proposals go beyond current ACIP recommendations by targeting MCV-4 as the vaccine of choice, although polysaccharide vaccines are allowable, and by calling for the routine vaccination of 11-year-olds.

ACIP now encourages college freshmen,…