Meningococcal B Vaccination Patterns Across 10 Integrated Health Systems within Vaccine Safety Datalink, 2015-2023.

Abstract

To examine patterns of vaccination with the meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) across 10 Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD) healthcare systems. We identified all MenB doses administered 2015-2023 to individuals ages 10-25 years at VSD sites. Each site was assigned to a US region: Western, Central, or Eastern. Vaccine administration patterns were assessed by calendar year and age at first dose. Vaccination coverage (≥1 dose) in 2023 was calculated using the full (high-risk and non-high-risk) cross-sectional cohort ages 16-25 years and among high-risk individuals ages 10-25 years. From 2015-2023, the most common age at MenB initiation was 18 years (34.1%); 15.6% initiated at age 16 years. In the Western region, 6% of individuals ages 16-25 years received ≥1 MenB dose, compared with 8% in the Central, and 17% in the Eastern regions. Among first-dose recipients aged ≥18 years, across regions, 39% to 68% completed the series. Among individuals with high-risk conditions (<1% of the sample), 39% received ≥1 dose, with coverage at 48% among individuals with asplenia; 44% among those with sickle cell disease, and 19% among those with complement component deficiencies. MenB initiation among individuals ages 16-25 years varies by geographic region. Although coverage is higher among individuals with high-risk conditions, a minority have ≥1 dose, suggesting that improvements in immunization delivery are needed for at-risk populations.