Immunogenicity and safety of a strain-specific MenB OMV vaccine delivered to under 5-year olds in New Zealand

To control the devastating group B meningococcal epidemic in New Zealand a strain-specific OMV vaccine (MeNZB) was extensively tested before vaccination of >1,000,000 people under 20 years. After the three-dose course 75% of 6–8-month-old infants and 16–24-month-old toddlers showed four-fold increases in bactericidal antibodies. In 6–10-week-old infants a fourth dose was needed to obtain similar results. After primary vaccination, the antibody titre decline was most pronounced among the youngest but both young infants and toddlers showed a clear booster response to a fourth dose.MeNZB was safe and well tolerated. The comprehensive post-licensure safety surveillance revealed no safety concerns.