Plan for revisiting the adolescent schedule 

for meningococcal vaccines

Lucy McNamara, PhD, MS

Interim Co-Lead, ACIP Meningococcal Vaccines Work Group

October 25, 2023

National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases
Considerations for routine schedule discussed 

during June 2023 ACIP meeting

▪ Strong interest in revisiting the meningococcal vaccine schedule, including

– Whether 11–12-year old dose is still needed given recent epidemiology 

– Revisiting SCDM for B vaccines

• Pentavalent vaccines may complicate the SCDM discussion for providers

• Nuances such as short duration of B protection may be lost in favor of 

giving a single injection

▪ Opportunity to reduce number of vaccines (i.e., with pentavalent vaccines) is 

appealing if maintaining a high level of protection 

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The Meningococcal Vaccines WG plans to 

revisit the schedule over the next year to 

ensure

▪ Adequate time to perform GRADE and EtR assessments

▪ Assessment of extended interval data for pentavalent vaccines

▪ Integration of any changes into the overall child and adolescent 

immunization schedule 

▪ Assessment of post-COVID epidemiology

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Proposed key questions

▪ Should the MenACWY series recommendations be changed to 

– Begin at an older age than currently recommended (11–12 years)

– Eliminate the 11–12 year-old dose or change this recommendation to 

SCDM?

▪ Should the MenB series recommendations be changed to

– Alter the recommended ages or dosing interval to provide better 

protection for individuals aged 18–19 years?

– Revisit the SCDM recommendation for some or all adolescents (e.g., 

those planning to attend college)?

▪ Are there ways we can better integrate MenACWY and MenB vaccine 

schedules to streamline administration/increase feasibility?

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Date Topics

Feb 2024 - Terms of reference for schedule change

June 2024

- Epidemiology pertinent to possible schedule changes 

• Cases/deaths averted by MenACWY dose at 11–12y 

• Meningococcal disease burden stratified by race/ethnicity in adolescents

• Risk factors for serogroup B meningococcal disease among college vs. noncollege students

• Breakthrough meningococcal disease cases in vaccinated individuals

• Extended interval data for pentavalent vaccines

Oct 2024 - GRADE/EtR for changes to MenACWY and MenB adolescent schedules

- CE analysis for changes to MenACWY and MenB adolescent schedules

Feb 2025 - Votes

Tentative timeline for ACIP meetings, 2024–2025

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Acknowledgments

▪ ACIP Members on the WG

– Kathy 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)

– 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)

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Thank you! 

Questions?