United States healthcare providers' views on pediatric meningococcal disease and vaccination.

BACKGROUND

Although meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) causes most invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) cases in United States (US) infants, MenB vaccination is not currently approved for this age group. This study sought to better understand US healthcare providers' (HCPs') views regarding IMD and a potential MenB vaccine for children ≤18 months old.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND

METHODS

An online survey was conducted in November 2024 among US board-certified HCPs who provided care to children ≤18 months old. Responses were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

Among N = 506 HCPs, 97.8% responded that, if the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) were to recommend MenB vaccination for children ≤18 months old, it should be recommended for all children in this age group (52.6%) or those at increased risk for IMD (45.3%). Less than one-fifth (17.6%) of HCPs correctly identified the ACIP MenB vaccination recommendation for children ≤18 months old; 84.4% indicated interest in learning more about a potential MenB vaccine if ACIP-recommended for this population. When considering recommending potential MenB vaccination, 68.6% of HCPs anticipated encountering vaccine hesitancy among parents/caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

Most HCPs viewed infant MenB vaccination favorably but demonstrated knowledge gaps regarding IMD epidemiology and vaccine recommendations, underscoring the need for targeted education to optimize future IMD prevention.