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

OBJECTIVE

To examine patterns of vaccination with the meningococcal B vaccine (MenB) across 10 Vaccine Safety Datalink health care systems.

STUDY

DESIGN

We identified all MenB doses administered 2015-2023 to individuals aged 10-25 years at Vaccine Safety Datalink 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 [HR] and non-HR) cross-sectional cohort aged 16-25 years and among HR individuals aged 10-25 years.

RESULTS

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 aged 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 HR 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.

CONCLUSIONS

MenB initiation among individuals aged 16-25 years varies by geographic region. Although coverage is higher among individuals with HR conditions, a minority have ≥1 dose, suggesting that improvements in immunization delivery are needed for at-risk populations.