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Andalusia will begin to vaccinate against meningitis B on December 1
The Governing Council of the Junta de Andalucía has taken cognizance of the vaccination schedule for all ages recommended by the Ministry of Health and Families for its application as of November 2, which incorporates as its main novelty the inclusion of the meningococcal B vaccine for those born after October 1, 2021 and whose payment exemption will have an annual cost of about 11 million euros.
Specifically, the meningococcal B vaccine (marketed in Spain under the name Bexsero) is included for all infants born on or after October 1, 2021, which will be administered at two months and, subsequently, at four and 15 months. This measure will begin to apply from December 1.
This vaccine prevents meningitis caused by meningococcal B bacteria, which mainly affects children under 5 years of age, with 10-20% mortality and 30% permanent sequelae in survivors. Until now, the currently available vaccine, Bexsero, was purchased by 56% of parents of young children in Andalusia with a total cost of the regimen per child of 318.45 euros. The approximate cost for the Junta de Andalucía of vaccination against meningococcus B will be 11 million per year.
According to the Board, the new vaccination calendar 2021-2022 It offers protection against 14 diseases and allows Andalusia to have one of the “most complete calendars for children, adolescents and adults in the world” thanks to the “advances produced since 2019”.
The 2021-2022 calendar includes vaccines that protect against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, invasive disease due to Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus, meningococcus of serogroups B and ACWY, measles, rubella, mumps, varicella, viruses human papilloma and flu.
The vaccination calendar includes vaccination against pneumococcus in people between 60 and 70 years old, in those who have risk factors of any age and in those who have passed the severe Covid. According to the Board, the latter is only contemplated by the Netherlands, and Andalusia has been the first region in the world to incorporate this indication.
Similarly, the Junta emphasizes that Andalusia will have the “most complete” flu vaccines, the tetravalent ones, which cover all strains. The recommendation for systematic vaccination of pregnant women and those over 65 years of age continues, in addition to people at risk of any age, health professionals and other essentials, cohabitants of people at risk and those over 65 years of age.
For papillomavirus for adolescent girls 12 to 18 years of age, the “most comprehensive” vaccine will be given, the nonavalent vaccine, which covers more than 90% of papillomavirus types. In addition, ACWY quadrivalent meningococcal vaccination is included in adolescents and also in childhood, at 12 months.
On the other hand, the calendar authorizes the administration on the same day of the Covid-19 vaccine and others such as pneumococcus or influenza, also with TDpa in pregnant women.