Baltimore Robert S
Pediatrics and Epidemiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Curr Opin Pediatr. 2006 Feb;18(1):58-63. doi: 10.1097/01.mop.0000193265.78506.7f.
In 2005, a new meningococcal vaccine, tetravalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4) was approved for use. This review discusses the population for whom it is recommended and the logic underlying these recommendations.
The older meningococcal vaccine, composed of capsular polysaccharide, had limited use in civilian populations. The Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommend the routine vaccination of adolescents with MCV4. This recommendation is largely based on newer epidemiologic data showing a considerable risk of meningococcal disease in late adolescence, most of which is preventable with vaccine.
The new MCV4 vaccine should be used in primary-care practices for the immunization of all adolescents and high-risk children and adults. In the future, further studies are likely to show it to be safe and effective for younger children too.
2005年，一种新型脑膜炎球菌疫苗——四价脑膜炎球菌结合疫苗（MCV4）被批准使用。本综述讨论了推荐使用该疫苗的人群以及这些推荐背后的逻辑。
由荚膜多糖组成的旧版脑膜炎球菌疫苗在平民人群中的使用有限。疾病控制中心和美国儿科学会现在建议对青少年常规接种MCV4。这一建议主要基于更新的流行病学数据，这些数据显示青少年晚期患脑膜炎球菌病的风险相当高，其中大部分可通过疫苗预防。
新型MCV4疫苗应在初级保健机构用于所有青少年以及高危儿童和成人的免疫接种。未来，进一步的研究可能会表明它对年幼儿童也安全有效。
