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Review
. 1997 Sep 20;350(9081):880-2.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)03227-3.

"Love's labours lost": failure to implement mass vaccination against group A meningococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa

J B Robbins  1 , D W Towne, E C Gotschlich, R Schneerson
Affiliations
Review

"Love's labours lost": failure to implement mass vaccination against group A meningococcal meningitis in sub-Saharan Africa

J B Robbins et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

PIP: Despite the availability of a safe, effective polysaccharide vaccine, group A meningococcal meningitis epidemics persist in sub-Saharan Africa. In October 1996, there were almost 150,000 reported cases and 15,000 deaths, the majority of which involved children. At 3 months of age, induction of protective group A meningococcal antibody levels requires 2 injections at least 1 month apart. Reinjection of 5-year-old children increases group A antibodies to long-term protective levels. During meningitis epidemics in Nigeria, Mali, and Rwanda, fatality was significantly reduced in areas where scarce vaccine was administered selectively. Although effective on an individual basis, selective vaccination is unable to control meningitis epidemics. In Chad, mass vaccination of the entire population (excluding infants under 12 months) eliminated the disease. Successful mass vaccination against group A meningococcal epidemics also has been reported in Saudi Arabia, China, and refugee camps in Africa. Although cost is cited as an obstacle to routine mass vaccination to prevent meningococcal meningitis in South Africa, prevention is the least expensive approach to disease control. It is recommended that the entire population of Africa's meningitis belt receive group A meningococcal vaccine in accordance with the recommended age schedule in a mass vaccination program.

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Comment in

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    Higham JH. Higham JH. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1707-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)64313-9. Lancet. 1997. PMID: 9400539 No abstract available.
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    Perkins BA, Broome CV, Rosenstein NE, Schuchat A, Reingold AL. Perkins BA, et al. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1708; author reply 1709-10. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)64314-0. Lancet. 1997. PMID: 9400540 No abstract available.
  • Meningococcal vaccine in sub-Saharan Africa.
    Kaninda AV, Varaine F, Henkens M, Paquet C. Kaninda AV, et al. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1708. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(05)64315-2. Lancet. 1997. PMID: 9400541 No abstract available.
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    Wenger J, Tikhomirov E, Barakamfitiye D, Bele O, Heymann DL. Wenger J, et al. Lancet. 1997 Dec 6;350(9092):1709; author reply 1709-10. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)64316-4. Lancet. 1997. PMID: 9400542 No abstract available.