Compulsory vaccination of infants against meningitis will be extended from 2025

On April 9, Public Health France announced in its annual report surveillance data for invasive meningococcal infections, that 560 cases of invasive meningococcal infections had been declared over the past year, “an increase of 72% compared to 2022”. The High Authority of Health (HAS) then recalled that “Invasive meningococcal infections are serious transmissible infections, the outcome of which can be rapidly fatal”.

In order to protect the entire population and more particularly infants, adolescents and young adults, the HAS was then contacted by the Ministry of Health, in order to update the vaccination strategy against meningococci A, C , W, Y and B. A new vaccination schedule making vaccination of children under one year old against meningococci A, B, W and Y compulsory from January 1, 2025 was published this Friday April 26 by the health authorities.

Vaccination of children under one year old against meningococci A, B, W and Y compulsory from 2025

Vaccination against meningitiscurrently obligatory in infants under one year old against meningococcus C and only recommended against meningococcus B, will now be extended to meningococci A, B, W and Y. Indeed, in a new vaccination schedule, the health authorities indicates that “the compulsory vaccination against serogroups ACWY and B in infants will come into force on January 1, 2025 after the publication of the regulatory texts”. A decision that follows the recommendations given by the High Authority of Health last March. Indeed, the experts recommended making it compulsory the vaccination, with a two-dose schedule, in all infants against serogroups A, C, W and Y. While for adolescents and young adults, the HAS recommended the administration of one dose for 11 and 14 year olds and a catch-up vaccination among 15-24 year olds.

— Ministry of Health and Prevention (@Sante_Gouv) April 26, 2024

Sources :

• 2024 vaccination schedule and update on the encouraging results of vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infections – Public Health France – April 26, 2024
• Invasive meningococcal infections: updated vaccination recommendations – Haute Autorité de Santé – March 27, 2024