What You Should Know About MenB Vaccines for Teens & New QI Opportunities

As you know, two serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccines are currently licensed for use among persons aged 10–25 years in the United States. Either MenB vaccine can be used when indicated; however, they are not interchangeable, and the same product must be used for all doses. MenB is recommended for the following:

Persons aged ≥10 years at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease (Category A recommendation). Vaccines for Children (VFC) eligible persons aged ≥10 years through age 18 years who are at increased risk for serogroup B meningococcal disease include persons who have persistent complement component deficiencies; persons who have anatomic or functional asplenia; and persons identified to be at increased risk because of a serogroup B meningococcal disease outbreak.

Adolescents and young adults aged 16–23 years (Category B recommendation). VFC eligible adolescents aged 16 through 18 years may also be vaccinated with MenB vaccines to provide short-term protection against most strains of serogroup B meningococcal disease.

Please review the technical recommendations from the current ACIP recommended update for MenB vaccines at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6619a6.htm.

In a letter sent by the Ohio Department of Health in December 2019, it is recommended that all Ohio VFC providers maintain some MenB vaccines for VFC eligible patients aged 10 through 18 years of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages pediatricians to discuss the availability of the MenB vaccine with all families and to make the decision to vaccinate together.

To learn more about vaccine recommendations and the 2020 Immunization Schedule, please consider scheduling a Maximizing Office Based Immunizations (MOBI) or Teen Immunization Education Sessions (TIES). MOBI and TIES trainings provide free immunization education with CME. They are in-office trainings, one hour in length, conducted by nurse educators from your local health department or Ohio AAP. For more information or to schedule a training, please contact Lory Sheeran Winland, Director of Immunization Programs, at lwinland@ohioaap.org.

Additionally, the Ohio AAP is looking to recruit 15 practices to participate in a national quality improvement project aimed to increase adolescent immunization rates. Practices will have access to subject matter experts, QI coaching, monthly data reports, data collection tool, and resources.  Project incentives will include MOC Part 2 and 4, and PI CME.  For more information, please contact Lory Sheeran Winland, Project Manager, at lwinland@ohioaap.org.  Deadline to enroll: April 30, 2020.

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