Two independent meningitis B studies were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The first study from the UK first national infant immunisation programme with Bexsero showed impact data. According to Public Health England, over a three year period the total number of meningitis B cases dropped 75%. Children who were not eligible for the vaccine though showed in the study that there was no decrease in MenB disease.

The second study of adolescent carriage of meningococcal bacteria, ‘B Part of It’, showed reduction in number of cases among the trial population in South Australia but no effect on the carriage of bacteria in the nose or throat, a prerequisite of impacting transmission. After the study, South Australia implemented a meningitis B vaccination programme for both infants and adolescents.

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