Top 5 Takeaways
- New Vaccine Approval: The FDA has approved the Pfizer Pentavalent Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY-TT/MenB-FHbp, branded as Penbraya) for individuals aged 10–25 years to protect against serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y of Neisseria meningitidis.
- ACIP Recommendations: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends Penbraya for simultaneous administration with other meningococcal vaccines when both MenACWY and MenB are indicated, targeting healthy individuals aged 16–23 and those ≥10 at increased risk due to specific health conditions.
- Vaccine Specifics: Penbraya combines components from existing vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, Y, and B, but subsequent doses of MenB must be from Pfizer, maintaining manufacturer consistency.
- Clinical Guidance: Shared clinical decision-making remains essential, especially regarding the administration of MenB. The report underscores the non-interchangeability of different manufacturers’ MenB vaccines.
- Health and Cost Impact: Economic models suggest that using Penbraya could be cost-saving and effective, particularly when replacing individual doses of MenACWY and MenB or for booster schedules.
Original Article Author and Citation
Corresponding Author
Jennifer P. Collins, MD, JCollins3@cdc.gov
Suggested Citation
Collins JP, et al. Use of the Pfizer Pentavalent Meningococcal Vaccine Among Persons Aged ≥10 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:345–350. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7315a4.
Summary
The approval of Penbraya introduces the first pentavalent vaccine capable of combating five serogroups of meningococcus, which simplifies the vaccination process and potentially enhances public health protection against this serious bacterial disease.
Methods
The recommendations are based on reviews from the ACIP Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group, which analyzed data from various clinical trials, evaluating both the immunogenicity and safety of the vaccine for different age groups and medical scenarios.
Discussion
This advancement is significant, merging preventive strategies against all major serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis under a single vaccination protocol, thus addressing the complexity and costs of previous multiple vaccine schedules.
Conclusion
The adoption of the Pfizer pentavalent vaccine is poised to make a substantial impact on the prevention of meningococcal disease in the U.S., particularly among young people and high-risk groups, aligning with broader public health goals of disease prevention and health cost management.
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