PHILADELPHIA, PA — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the inclusion of GSK’s PENMENVY vaccine in the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule. The decision marks a significant advance in the prevention of meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y.
PENMENVY, recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in individuals aged 10 to 25, offers broad coverage in a single dose. This means adolescents can now be protected against all five key meningococcal disease serogroups with fewer injections, potentially simplifying the immunization process and improving vaccination rates. The doses will be available in the U.S. by summer 2025.
ACIP voted to recommend a single dose of PENMENVY as an alternative to separate MenACWY and MenB vaccinations for those over 10 years old, particularly at the typical 16-year vaccination checkup. This streamlined approach could help reduce complications in scheduling and delivery while addressing the low coverage rates of MenB vaccinations, which protect against the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease among adolescents.
Tony Wood, GSK’s Chief Scientific Officer, supported the decision, saying, “We welcome this positive recommendation that can help strengthen disease prevention efforts in the US. Pentavalent vaccines can reduce the number of injections required to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease – especially disease caused by serogroup B. Their use could improve immunization rates among adolescents and young adults in the US, who are at an age with increased risk.”
Currently, fewer than 13% of 17-year-olds in the U.S. complete the two-dose MenB series, highlighting a gap in protection. With GSK already manufacturing the majority of MenB doses administered in the country, the company is well-positioned to address this issue and lead the way in expanding protection against meningococcal disease.
The CDC’s adoption of the ACIP’s recommendation would represent a milestone in adolescent vaccination efforts, streamlining disease prevention measures and safeguarding more young individuals.
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