ACIP Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group 

Introduction

Katherine Poehling, MD, MPH

Chair, ACIP Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group

October 25, 2023

National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases
Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group

▪ ACIP Members on the WG

• Katherine Poehling (Chair)

• Lynn Bahta

• Jamie Loehr

▪ Ex Officio WG Members

• Margaret Bash (FDA)

• Mark Connelly (FDA)

• Francisco Leyva (NIH)

▪ WG Liaisons and Consultants

• Amra Resic (AAFP)

• Samir Shah (AAP) 

• Sharon McMullen (ACHA)

• Cacky Tate / Karyn Lyons (AIM)

• Paul Cieslak (CSTE)

• Kathy Hsu (IDSA)

• Joseline Zafack (NACI)

• Jeff Goad (NFID)

• Jessica Cataldi (PIDS)

• Amy Middleman (SAHM)

• David Stephens (Emory)

▪ CDC Contributors

• Jennifer Collins (DBD/NCIRD)

• Sam Crowe (DBD/NCIRD)

• Lucy McNamara (DBD/NCIRD)

• Ismael Ortega-Sanchez (DVD/NCIRD)

• Andrew Leidner (ISD/NCIRD)

• LeAnne Fox (DBD/NCIRD)

• Susan Hariri (DBD/NCIRD)

• Amy Rubis (DBD/NCIRD)

• Noele Nelson (DBD/NCIRD)

• Alison Albert (DBD/NCIRD)

• Angela Jiles (DBD/NCIRD)

• Jonathan Duffy (DHQP/NCEZID)

• Tanya Myers (DHQP/NCEZID) 

• Liz Velazquez (ISD/NCIRD)

• Jessica MacNeil (ACIP Secretariat)

• Melinda Wharton (ACIP Secretariat)

▪ GRADE/EtR Support

• Doug Campos-Outcalt (Arizona)

• Rebecca Morgan (Case Western Reserve)

2
Policy topics under consideration by Work 

Group regarding Pfizer’s pentavalent vaccine

▪ Should pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for 

MenACWY/MenB vaccination in people currently recommended to 

receive both vaccines? 

▪ Should pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for people currently 

recommended to receive MenACWY only? 

▪ Should pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for people currently 

recommended to receive MenB only? 

3
Summary of ACIP meetings

▪ February 2023

– Epidemiology of meningococcal disease in the United States

– Pfizer’s MenABCWY vaccine clinical trials data

– Work group interpretation of Pfizer’s MenABCWY trials data

▪ June 2023

– CDC’s cost effectiveness model

– Summary of GRADE and EtR framework

4
Meningococcal Work Group Meeting Review

June─October 2023

▪ Feedback from June ACIP meeting

– Review of meningococcal schedule postponed to allow for consideration 

of GSK’s forthcoming pentavalent vaccine and availability of data about 

post-COVID meningococcal epidemiology

▪ Comparisons of cost-effectiveness models

▪ Updates on CDC cost-effectiveness model with new price estimate 

– Price for pentavalent was ~$40–90 more than MenB and now is similar

▪ Discussed 3 potential recommendation options based on concerns raised by 

ACIP members in June and new cost-effectiveness estimates

5
Work Group determinations for policy questions

▪ Should the pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for MenACWY/MenB

vaccination in people currently recommended to receive both vaccines? 

• YES (strong consensus)

▪ Should the pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for people currently 

recommended to receive MenACWY only? 

• NO (strong consensus)

▪ Should the pentavalent vaccine be included as an option for people currently 

recommended to receive MenB only? 

• Perhaps (limited consensus)

6
Today’s agenda

▪ Meningococcal Vaccines Session

▪ Later today

– Meningococcal vote regarding Pfizer’s MenABCWY vaccine

– Meningococcal VFC vote regarding Pfizer’s MenABCWY vaccine

7

Topic Presenter

Plan for revisiting the adolescent schedule for 

meningococcal vaccines 

Dr. Lucy McNamara (CDC/NCIRD)

Comparison of Pfizer and CDC cost effectiveness 

analyses for Pfizer’s MenABCWY vaccine

Dr. Ismael Ortega-Sanchez (CDC/NCIRD)

Summary of EtR and proposed recommendations for 

Pfizer’s MenABCWY vaccine

Dr. Jennifer Collins (CDC/NCIRD) 

Vaccines for Children Resolution Dr. Jeanne Santoli (CDC/NCIRD)