Meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines: recommendation of the Public Health Service Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Meningococcal disease is endemic in the United States, and sulfonamide-sensitive serogroup B strains currently cause most cases. More than two thirds of all cases occur in persons less than 20 years old. Three meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines are licensed for selective use in the United States: monovalent A, monovalent C, and bivalent A-C. This recommendation describes indications for their use, with particular attention to primary immunization, and use in pregnancy and in epidemic control.