New generation meningococcal vaccine available to protect the elderly and children

The vaccine is manufactured at Sanofi's factory in the US, using breakthrough conjugation technology, in which meningococcal antigens are attached to tetanus toxoid protein (TT) to enhance immune response, create sustainable immunity and reduce the rate of "healthy carriers" in the community.

It is estimated that each year, the world records more than 135,000 deaths related to meningococcus.

Meningococcal bacteria are the cause of dangerous diseases such as meningitis and sepsis, which can cause death within hours if not detected and treated promptly.

It is estimated that each year, the world records more than 135,000 deaths related to meningococcus. Survivors of the disease also face many serious sequelae such as hearing loss, neurological disorders, and limb amputations, especially in young children, where the sequelae rate is up to 50%.

In Vietnam, in the first half of 2025 alone, there have been dozens of cases of the disease, including 2 deaths. The Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City warns of the risk of an outbreak in crowded environments such as schools, dormitories, barracks, industrial parks, etc. due to the high rate of healthy people carrying the virus, from 5-25%.

According to Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of the VNVC Vaccination System, the MenACYW vaccine not only helps protect the vaccinated person directly, but also contributes to cutting off the transmission chain thanks to its ability to reduce the number of bacteria in the throat area, the main source of infection of the disease.

A notable difference is that this new generation vaccine extends the vaccination age to people aged 56 and older, a group that has not previously had access to meningococcal vaccines. This is especially important in the context of the elderly having a weakened immune system and being susceptible to severe complications when infected.

The MenACYW vaccine has been approved in more than 70 countries and is being rolled out in nearly 40 countries since 2021.

It is expected that the indications for use will soon be expanded to children from 6 weeks of age, opening up opportunities for earlier and more effective disease prevention. According to Dr. Chinh, the pathogenic serogroups of meningococcus do not have cross-immunity. Therefore, to be fully protected, people need to be vaccinated with a combination of vaccines such as MenACYW, group B, BC, ACYW, etc.

Depending on age, vaccination history and epidemiological situation, the doctor will advise on an appropriate vaccination schedule to achieve optimal effectiveness. Currently, MenACYW vaccine is deployed for vaccination at VNVC system nationwide. With the simultaneous provision of all common types of meningococcal vaccines today.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/da-co-vac-xin-nao-mo-cau-the-he-moi-bao-ve-nguoi-cao-tuoi-va-tre-nho-d322962.html