{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:16:27Z","timestamp":1787030187087,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":92,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780444800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders","award":["WAidid-2026-01"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["WAidid-2026-01"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Vaccines"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) remains a rare but severe condition associated with high mortality and a significant risk of long-term sequelae. Despite global vaccination efforts, the epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis continues to evolve, with serogroup B (MenB) representing the predominant cause of IMD in many high-income countries. Methods: This consensus document reviews current evidence on MenB epidemiology and the role of the multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB), with a focus on immunogenicity, strain coverage, real-world effectiveness, and remaining challenges. Results: Protein-based MenB vaccines have overcome the limitations of polysaccharide approaches, demonstrating robust immunogenicity across age groups. Real-world data confirm substantial vaccine effectiveness, particularly in infant immunization programs and outbreak settings, with significant reductions in disease incidence. For example, in England in the 3 years after vaccine introduction, MenB IMD incidence declined by 75% in immunized infants compared to unvaccinated controls. Adjusted vaccine efficacy was 52.7% after the two-dose primary series and 59.1% following the booster dose, highlighting the contribution of the booster. However, protection is influenced by antigenic variability among circulating strains, resulting in incomplete and geographically variable coverage. In addition, antibody waning over time and the limited impact on nasopharyngeal carriage reduce the potential for long-term and indirect protection. These factors highlight the need to optimize vaccination strategies, including the timing of booster doses, particularly in adolescents, and the role of vaccination in different epidemiological contexts. In this regard, it is not precisely defined whether infants who were immunized in the first year of life need a booster dose in the preschool period, especially in countries with a high incidence of MenB disease. Moreover, it is not established whether and when adolescents who were vaccinated both in infancy and during the preschool period need a booster dose. Economic considerations and variability in national immunization policies further contribute to heterogeneity in vaccine implementation. Emerging evidence suggests possible cross-protection against other meningococcal serogroups and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, although findings remain inconsistent across different risk groups and do not allow us to recommend 4CMenB vaccine beyond MenB IBD prevention. Conclusions: 4CMenB is an effective tool for preventing MenB IMD, although further studies are needed. Future strategies should prioritize age-targeted boosting and enhanced genomic surveillance to maximize impact.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines14060502","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T09:33:14Z","timestamp":1780479194000},"page":"502","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Vaccination Against Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease: Current Status and Future Perspectives\u2014A Consensus Document of the World Association for Infectious Diseases and Immunological Disorders (WAidid)"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4103-2837","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Susanna","family":"Esposito","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Pediatric Clinic, University Hospital of Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nigel","family":"Curtis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia"},{"name":"Murdoch Children\u2019s Research Institute, Royal Children\u2019s Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ulrich","family":"Heininger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, University Children\u2019s Hospital Basel (UKBB), Spitalstrasse 33, 4056 Basel, Switzerland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Markus","family":"Knuf","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Worms Clinic, 67550 Worms, Germany"},{"name":"Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Mainz, 55101 Mainz, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shamez","family":"Ladhani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Immunisation and Countermeasures Division, UK Health Security Agency & St George\u2019s, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Marshall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Health Network, North Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia"},{"name":"The Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, Adelaide University, North Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9023-581X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Federico","family":"Martinon-Torres","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Cl\u00ednico Universitario de Santiago & Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4401-9446","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marco","family":"Safadi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Santa Casa de S\u00e3o Paulo School of Medical Sciences, Rua Dr. Ces\u00e1rio Motta J\u00fanior 112, S\u00e3o Paulo 01221-020, SP, Brazil"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5467-0630","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vana","family":"Spoulou","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"First Department of Pediatrics, National and Kapodistrian \u201cAgia Sophia\u201d Children\u2019s Hospital, Thivon & Papadiamantopoulou, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0716-3174","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mohamed K.","family":"Taha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Reference Center for Meningococci, Institut Pasteur, 75724 Paris, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3468-5568","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicola","family":"Principi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2852","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2013.04.036","article-title":"Emergence of serogroup X meningococcal disease in Africa: Need for a vaccine","volume":"31","author":"Xie","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"558","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2008.04.002","article-title":"Genetics and evolution of Neisseria meningitidis: Importance for the epidemiology of meningococcal disease","volume":"8","author":"Caugant","year":"2008","journal-title":"Infect. Genet. Evol."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (2026, January 31). Invasive Meningococcal Disease. Available online: https:\/\/www.ecdc.europa.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/invasive-meningococcal-disease-annual-epidemiological-report-2023_0.pdf."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"189","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijid.2020.11.162","article-title":"A Review of the Epidemiology of Invasive Meningococcal Disease and Vaccination Strategies in North Africa","volume":"104","author":"Taha","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Avgoulea, K., Chronopoulou, G., Xirogianni, A., Simantirakis, S., Georgakopoulou, T., Tsakalos, A., Karamalis, C., Nikolopoulos, L., Roussos, F., and Gryllia, M. (2025). Two Cases of Rare Manifestations Due to Neisseria meningitidis During the Post-COVID-19 Era in Greece. Microorganisms, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms13092071"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jansen, M.L., van Kempen, E.B., Tulling, A.J., Buddingh, E.C., van Sorge, N.M., Bijlsma, M.W., van Veen, M., von Asmuth, E., Lebon, A., and van der Linden, J. (2026). The Severity Characteristics of Pediatric Group AStreptococcal Meningitis in the Netherlands (2015-June 2024): Results From a Nationwide Multicenter Cohort Study. Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J.","DOI":"10.1097\/INF.0000000000005247"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"421","DOI":"10.1007\/s40121-018-0213-2","article-title":"Systematic review of invasive meningococcal disease: Sequelae and quality of life impact on patients and their caregivers","volume":"7","author":"Olbrich","year":"2018","journal-title":"Infect. Dis. Ther."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shen, J., Begum, N., Ruiz-Garcia, Y., Martinon-Torres, F., Bekkat-Berkani, R., and Meszaros, K. (2022). Range of invasive meningococcal disease sequelae and health economic application\u2014A systematic and clinical review. BMC Public Health, 22.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-13342-2"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"325","DOI":"10.2174\/1568005014605964","article-title":"Vaccines against polysaccharide antigens","volume":"1","author":"Lesinski","year":"2001","journal-title":"Curr. Drug Targets-Infect. Disord."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2505","DOI":"10.4161\/hv.26109","article-title":"Protein carriers of conjugate vaccines: Characteristics, development, and clinical trials","volume":"9","author":"Pichichero","year":"2013","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"B20","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2009.04.067","article-title":"Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine: The experience in England and Wales","volume":"27","author":"Campbell","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Viviani, S. (2022). Efficacy and Effectiveness of the Meningococcal Conjugate Group A Vaccine MenAfriVac\u00ae in Preventing Recurrent Meningitis Epidemics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Vaccines, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines10040617"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Masignani, V., Pizza, M., and Moxon, E.R. (2019). The development of a vaccine against meningococcus B using reverse vaccinology. Front. Immunol., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2019.00751"},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pizza, M., Bekkat-Berkani, R., and Rappuoli, R. (2020). Vaccines against Meningococcal Diseases. Microorganisms, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/microorganisms8101521"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm7501a2","article-title":"Use of the GSK MenACWY-CRM\/MenB-4C Pentavalent Meningococcal Vaccine Among Persons Aged \u226510 Years: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices\u2014United States, 2025","volume":"75","author":"Amin","year":"2026","journal-title":"Mmwr-Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"483","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2020.05.079","article-title":"The everchanging epidemiology of meningococcal disease worldwide and the potential for prevention through vaccination","volume":"81","author":"Parikh","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"CD013574","article-title":"Quarantine alone or in combination with other public health measures to control COVID-19: A rapid review","volume":"9","author":"Mayr","year":"2020","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Findlow, J., Htar, M.T.T., Villena, R., and Balmer, P. (2025). Invasive Meningococcal Disease in the Post-COVID World: Patterns of Disease Rebound. Vaccines, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines13020165"},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"(2026, January 31). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Meningococcal Disease (Neisseria meningitidis) 2015 Case Definition, Available online: https:\/\/ndc.services.cdc.gov\/case-definitions\/meningococcal-disease-2015."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"80","DOI":"10.1186\/s41182-026-00955-1","article-title":"Nationwide epidemiology of invasive meningococcal disease in Japan, 2017\u20132025: Implications of post-COVID-19 mobility","volume":"54","author":"Chen","year":"2026","journal-title":"Trop. Med. Health."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2002075","DOI":"10.2807\/1560-7917.ES.2022.27.3.2002075","article-title":"Evolution of invasive meningococcal disease epidemiology in Europe, 2008 to 2017","volume":"27","author":"Nuttens","year":"2022","journal-title":"Eurosurveillance"},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (2026, January 31). Annual Epidemiological Report 2016\u2014Invasive Meningococcal Disease 2016. Available online: https:\/\/www.ecdc.europa.eu\/en\/publications-data\/invasive-meningococcal-disease-annual-epidemiological-report-2016."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"UK Health Security Agency (2026, January 31). Invasive meningococcal Disease in England: Annual Laboratory Confirmed Reports for Epidemiological Year 2023 to 2024, Available online: https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/meningococcal-disease-laboratory-confirmed-cases-in-england-2023-to-2024\/invasive-meningococcal-disease-in-england-annual-laboratory-confirmed-reports-for-epidemiological-year-2023-to-2024."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2026, January 03). Meningococcal Disease, Available online: https:\/\/stacks.cdc.gov\/view\/cdc\/140464."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2489","DOI":"10.1007\/s40121-024-01063-5","article-title":"Global Epidemiology of Meningococcal Disease-Causing Serogroups Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Narrative Review","volume":"13","author":"Shen","year":"2024","journal-title":"Infect. Dis. Ther."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"B87","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2012.01.033","article-title":"The new multicomponent vaccine against meningococcal serogroup B, 4CMenB: Immunological, functional and structural characterization of the antigens","volume":"30","author":"Serruto","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1509","DOI":"10.1007\/s40121-026-01322-7","article-title":"Modeling the Public Health Impact of Introducing 4CMenB Vaccination for Infants in the Brazilian National Immunization Program","volume":"15","author":"Pinto","year":"2026","journal-title":"Infect. Dis. Ther."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"GSK (2026, January 21). GSK\u2019s Meningitis B vaccine Bexsero Receives Breakthrough Therapy Designation from US FDA for Prevention of Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Children 2-10 Years of Age. Available online: https:\/\/www.gsk.com\/en-gb\/media\/press-releases\/gsk-s-meningitis-b-vaccine-bexsero-receives-breakthrough-therapy-designation-from-us-fda-for-prevention-of-invasive-meningococcal-disease-in-children-2-10-years-of-age\/."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"126953","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2025.126953","article-title":"Identification of immunogenic outer membrane vesicle vaccine antigen components using a meningococcal protein microarray","volume":"53","author":"Thistlethwaite","year":"2025","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1307","DOI":"10.1084\/jem.129.6.1307","article-title":"Human immunity to the meningococcus: I. The role of humoral antibodies","volume":"129","author":"Goldschneider","year":"1969","journal-title":"J. Exp. Med."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5093","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2006.03.091","article-title":"Neisseria meningitidis group B correlates of protection and assay standardization\u2014international meeting report Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 16\u201317 March","volume":"24","author":"Borrow","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15","DOI":"10.1007\/s40265-013-0155-7","article-title":"A multi-component meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB): The clinical development program","volume":"74","author":"Stoddard","year":"2014","journal-title":"Drugs"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2722","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2014.02.068","article-title":"Variability of genes encoding surface proteins used as vaccine antigens in meningococcal endemic and epidemic strain panels from Norway","volume":"32","author":"Holst","year":"2014","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0089824","DOI":"10.1128\/msphere.00898-24","article-title":"Methods to evaluate the performance of a multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine","volume":"10","author":"Borrow","year":"2025","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"991","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2018.12.061","article-title":"Genetic Meningococcal Antigen Typing System (gMATS): A genotyping tool that predicts 4CMenB strain coverage worldwide","volume":"37","author":"Muzzi","year":"2019","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7850","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2020.10.008","article-title":"Predicted coverage by 4CMenB vaccine against invasive meningococcal disease cases in the Netherlands","volume":"38","author":"Knol","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00376-20","DOI":"10.1128\/mSphere.00376-20","article-title":"Genomic Characterization of Invasive Meningococcal Serogroup B Isolates and Estimation of 4CMenB Vaccine Coverage in Finland","volume":"5","author":"Bodini","year":"2020","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0022024","DOI":"10.1128\/msphere.00220-24","article-title":"Prediction by genetic MATS of 4CMenB vaccine strain coverage of invasive meningococcal serogroup B isolates circulating in Taiwan between 2003 and 2020","volume":"9","author":"Muzzi","year":"2024","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3230","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2021.1904758","article-title":"High coverage of diverse invasive meningococcal serogroup B strains by the 4-component vaccine 4CMenB in Australia, 2007\u20132011: Concordant predictions between MATS and genetic MATS","volume":"17","author":"Tozer","year":"2021","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1128\/mSphere.00261-17","article-title":"Meningococcal antigen typing system (MATS)-based Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B coverage prediction for the MenB-4C vaccine in the United States","volume":"2","author":"Rajam","year":"2017","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"377","DOI":"10.4067\/S0716-10182014000400001","article-title":"Vigilancia de laboratorio de enfermedad meningoc\u00f3ccica invasora en Chile, 2006\u20132012","volume":"31","author":"Araya","year":"2014","journal-title":"Rev. Chil. Infectol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2500431","DOI":"10.2807\/1560-7917.ES.2026.31.3.2500431","article-title":"First use of Trumenba (MenB-fHbp) vaccine to control a nursery outbreak of serogroup B invasive meningococcal disease involving children previously immunised with Bexsero (4CMenB), England, November 2023","volume":"31","author":"Foster","year":"2026","journal-title":"Euro Surveill."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4","DOI":"10.1128\/mSphere.00196-18","article-title":"Potential coverage of the 4CMenB vaccine against invasive serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis isolated from 2009 to 2013 in the Republic of Ireland","volume":"3","author":"Mulhall","year":"2018","journal-title":"mSphere"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4690","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2016.08.015","article-title":"Distribution of Bexsero\u00ae Antigen Sequence Types (BASTs) in invasive meningococcal disease isolates: Implications for immunisation","volume":"34","author":"Brehony","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2714","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.1521142113","article-title":"Expression of factor H binding protein in meningococcal strains can vary at least 15-fold and is genetically determined","volume":"113","author":"Biagini","year":"2016","journal-title":"Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4739","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2011.04.092","article-title":"Prevalence and genetic diversity of candidate vaccine antigens among invasive Neisseria meningitidis isolates in the United States","volume":"29","author":"Wang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e00036-18","DOI":"10.1128\/mBio.00036-18","article-title":"Predicting the Susceptibility of Meningococcal Serogroup B Isolates to Bactericidal Antibodies Elicited by Bivalent rLP2086, a Novel Prophylactic Vaccine","volume":"9","author":"McNeil","year":"2018","journal-title":"mBio"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2012.85","article-title":"Immunogenicity and tolerability of recombinant serogroup B meningococcal vaccine administered with or without routine infant vaccinations according to different immunization schedules: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"307","author":"Gossger","year":"2012","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1993","DOI":"10.4161\/hv.28666","article-title":"A phase 2 randomized controlled trial of a multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (I)","volume":"10","author":"Prymula","year":"2014","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"825","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(12)61961-8","article-title":"Immunogenicity and safety of an investigational multicomponent, recombinant, meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) administered concomitantly with routine infant and child vaccinations: Results of two randomised trials","volume":"381","author":"Vesikari","year":"2013","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2005","DOI":"10.4161\/hv.29218","article-title":"A phase 2 randomized controlled trial of a multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine, 4CMenB, in infants (II)","volume":"10","author":"Esposito","year":"2014","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"395","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2016.11.009","article-title":"Persistence of bactericidal antibodies following booster vaccination with 4CMenB at 12, 18 or 24months and immunogenicity of a fifth dose administered at 4years of age-a phase 3 extension to a randomised controlled trial","volume":"35","author":"Iro","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3548","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2017.05.023","article-title":"Reduced schedules of 4CMenB vaccine in infants and catch-up series in children: Immunogenicity and safety results from a randomised open-label phase 3b trial","volume":"35","author":"Safadi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3850","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2015.06.079","article-title":"Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB): Booster dose in previously vaccinated infants and primary vaccination in toddlers and two-year-old children","volume":"33","author":"Vesikari","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E715\u2013724","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.130257","article-title":"Persistence of bactericidal antibodies following early infant vaccination with a serogroup B meningococcal vaccine and immunogenicity of a preschool booster dose","volume":"185","author":"Snape","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cmaj"},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1116","DOI":"10.1097\/INF.0b013e31829cfff2","article-title":"Bactericidal anti body persistence 2 years after immunization with 2 investigational serogroup B meningococcal vaccines at 6, 8 and 12 months and immunogenicity of preschool booster doses: A follow-on study to a randomized clinical trial","volume":"32","author":"Snape","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"760","DOI":"10.1097\/INF.0000000000000327","article-title":"Persistence of bactericidal antibodies to 5 years of age after immunization with serogroup B meningococcal vaccines at 6, 8, 12 and 40 months of age","volume":"33","author":"McQuaid","year":"2014","journal-title":"Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E1276","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.161288","article-title":"Persistence of immunity after vaccination with a capsular group B meningococcal vaccine in 3 different toddler schedules","volume":"189","author":"Sadarangani","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cmaj"},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5217","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2015.06.103","article-title":"Immune responses to a recombinant, four-component, meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) in adolescents: A phase III, randomized, multicentre, lot-to-lot consistency study","volume":"33","author":"Perrett","year":"2015","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2304","DOI":"10.4161\/hv.25505","article-title":"Persistence of antibodies in adolescents 18-24 months after immunization with one, two, or three doses of 4CMenB meningococcal serogroup B vaccine","volume":"9","author":"Santolaya","year":"2013","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1080\/14760584.2019.1580579","article-title":"Optimizing the timing of 4CMenB vaccination in adolescents and young adults based on immune persistence and booster response data","volume":"18","author":"Watson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Expert Rev. Vaccines"},{"key":"ref_62","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4453","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2022.04.085","article-title":"Immunogenicity of a single 4CMenB vaccine booster in adolescents 11 years after childhood immunisation","volume":"40","author":"Rollier","year":"2022","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_63","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Garc\u00eda Flores, A.B., Ruiz-Montero, R., Onieva-Garc\u00eda, M.\u00c1., Batista-Duharte, A., L\u00f3pez Cabrera, E., Farouk Allam, M., and Salcedo, I. (2025). Safety Profile of the 4CMenB (Bexsero\u00ae) Vaccine: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events in Clinical Trials. Vaccines, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines13101030"},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Thorn, N., Danos, Z., Andrews, N.J., Sutton, N., Cathie, K., Owens, D., Kelly, D., Shackley, F., Scorrer, T., and Lea, C. (2026). Immunogenicity, reactogenicity, and safety of a reduced-interval 4CMenB primary immunisation schedule in UK infants: A multicentre, open-label, assessor-blinded, phase 4 randomised controlled trial. Lancet Infect. Dis.","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(26)00119-2"},{"key":"ref_65","unstructured":"(2026, January 31). European Medicines Agency (EMA) Bexsero: Summary of Product Characteristics. Available online: https:\/\/www.ema.europa.eu\/en\/medicines\/human\/EPAR\/bexsero."},{"key":"ref_66","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1097\/INF.0000000000002507","article-title":"Prophylactic Paracetamol After Meningococcal B Vaccination Reduces Postvaccination Fever and Septic Screens in Hospitalized Preterm Infants","volume":"39","author":"Dubus","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pediatr. Infect. Dis. J."},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4243","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2019.06.021","article-title":"Impact of a mass vaccination campaign against Serogroup B meningococcal disease in the Saguenay-Lac- Saint-Jean region of Quebec four years after its launch","volume":"37","author":"Deceuninck","year":"2019","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1177\/2051013616681365","article-title":"Multicomponent meningococcal B vaccination (4CMenB) of adolescents and college students in the United States","volume":"5","author":"Banzhoff","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ther. Adv. Vaccines"},{"key":"ref_69","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"520","DOI":"10.15585\/mmwr.mm6520a3","article-title":"Notes from the field: Outbreak of serogroup B meningococcal disease at a university\u2014California, 2016","volume":"65","author":"Biswas","year":"2016","journal-title":"Mmwr-Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep."},{"key":"ref_70","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Azzari, C., Moriondo, M., Nieddu, F., Guarnieri, V., Lodi, L., Canessa, C., Indolfi, G., Giovannini, M., Napoletano, G., and Russo, F. (2020). Effectiveness and impact of the 4CMenB vaccine against group B meningococcal disease in two Italian regions using different vaccination schedules: A five-year retrospective observational study (2014\u20132018). Vaccines, 8.","DOI":"10.3390\/vaccines8030469"},{"key":"ref_71","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e2329678","DOI":"10.1001\/jamanetworkopen.2023.29678","article-title":"Four- component recombinant protein-based vaccine effectiveness against serogroup B meningococcal disease in Italy","volume":"6","author":"Lodi","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAMA Netw. Open"},{"key":"ref_72","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2187","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2020.20449","article-title":"Association of use of a meningococcus group B vaccine with group B invasive meningococcal disease among children in Portugal","volume":"324","author":"Rodrigues","year":"2020","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"ref_73","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa2206433","article-title":"Effectiveness of a meningococcal group B vaccine (4CMenB) in children","volume":"388","author":"Castilla","year":"2023","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_74","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1661","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciaa1244","article-title":"First real-world evidence of meningococcal group B vaccine, 4CMenB, protection against meningococcal group W disease: Prospective enhanced national surveillance, England","volume":"73","author":"Ladhani","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_75","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"309","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1901229","article-title":"Vaccination of Infants with Meningococcal Group B Vaccine (4CMenB) in England","volume":"382","author":"Ladhani","year":"2020","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_76","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"190","DOI":"10.1016\/S2352-4642(22)00379-0","article-title":"Outcomes of meningococcal serogroup B disease in children after implementation of routine infant 4CMenB vaccination in England: An active, prospective, national surveillance study","volume":"7","author":"Mensah","year":"2023","journal-title":"Lancet Child Adolesc. Health"},{"key":"ref_77","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1093\/cid\/ciaa1636","article-title":"Impact of meningococcal B vaccine on invasive meningococcaldisease in adolescents","volume":"73","author":"McMillan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Clin. Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_78","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2023.05.021","article-title":"4CMenB sustained vaccine effectiveness against invasive meningococcal B disease and gonorrhoea at three years post programme implementation","volume":"87","author":"Wang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"ref_79","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"318","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMoa1900236","article-title":"Meningococcal B vaccine and meningococcal carriage in adolescents, Australia","volume":"382","author":"Marshall","year":"2020","journal-title":"N. Engl. J. Med."},{"key":"ref_80","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"427","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2016.11.071","article-title":"A phase III observer-blind randomized, controlled study to evaluate the immune response and the correlation with nasopharyngeal carriage after immunization of university students with a quadrivalent meningococcal ACWY glycoconjugate or serogroup B meningococcal vaccine","volume":"35","author":"Read","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_81","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e115296","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2025-115296","article-title":"Efficacy of the serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis vaccine (4CMenB) in preventing experimental Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethral infection: A double-blind randomised controlled human challenge study protocol","volume":"16","author":"Waltmann","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"ref_82","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7542","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2020.09.050","article-title":"Multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccination elicits cross-reactive immunity in infants against genetically diverse serogroup C, W and Y invasive disease isolates","volume":"38","author":"Biolchi","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_83","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1113","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2012.12.022","article-title":"Could the multicomponent meningococcal serogroup B vaccine (4CMenB) control Neisseria meningitidis capsular group X outbreaks in Africa?","volume":"31","author":"Hong","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vaccine"},{"key":"ref_84","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1011","DOI":"10.1016\/S1473-3099(21)00754-4","article-title":"Effectiveness and impact of the 4CMenB vaccine against invasive serogroup B meningococcal disease and gonorrhoea in an infant, child, and adolescent programme: An observational cohort and case-control study","volume":"22","author":"Wang","year":"2022","journal-title":"Lancet Infect. Dis."},{"key":"ref_85","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1603","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(17)31449-6","article-title":"Effectiveness of a group B outer membrane vesicle meningococcal vaccine against gonorrhoea in New Zealand: A retrospective case-control study","volume":"390","author":"Paynter","year":"2017","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_86","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106582","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jinf.2025.106582","article-title":"The United Kingdom meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) programme against gonorrhoea: A review of the evidence and knowledge gaps","volume":"91","author":"Ladhani","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Infect."},{"key":"ref_87","unstructured":"Seib, K.L. (2026, January 22\u201325). Meningococcal B (4CMenB) Vaccination for the Prevention of Gonorrhea in Men Who Have Sex With Men. Abstract 197. Proceedings of the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Denver, Colorado. Available online: https:\/\/www.croiwebcasts.org\/p\/2026croi\/croi\/197?utm_source=chatgpt.com."},{"key":"ref_88","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2547514","DOI":"10.1080\/21645515.2025.2547514","article-title":"4CMenB vaccine coverage of invasive serogroup B meningococci collected in Belgium between 2016 and 2022","volume":"21","author":"Goeders","year":"2025","journal-title":"Hum. Vaccines Immunother."},{"key":"ref_89","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1038\/s41541-024-01025-5","article-title":"Modeling the persistence of 4CMenB vaccine protection against real world meningococcal B disease in adolescents","volume":"9","author":"Argante","year":"2024","journal-title":"npj Vaccines"},{"key":"ref_90","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2500222","DOI":"10.2807\/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.44.2500222","article-title":"Outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease caused by a meningococcus serogroup B expressing a rare porA genosubtype (19-54, 15), Spain, March to April 2024","volume":"30","author":"Abad","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eurosurveillance"},{"key":"ref_91","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S389","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2008.151332","article-title":"Compliance with multi-dose vaccine schedules in adolescents","volume":"99","author":"Nelson","year":"2009","journal-title":"Am. J. Public Health."},{"key":"ref_92","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2240","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vaccine.2016.03.020","article-title":"Epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing vaccination against serogroup B meningococcal disease in France","volume":"34","author":"Lecocq","year":"2016","journal-title":"Vaccine"}],"container-title":["Vaccines"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-393X\/14\/6\/502\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,25]],"date-time":"2026-06-25T07:03:02Z","timestamp":1782370982000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-393X\/14\/6\/502"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]]},"references-count":92,"journal-issue":{"issue":"6","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6]]}},"alternative-id":["vaccines14060502"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vaccines14060502","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-393X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-393X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]]}}}