Tetravalent (A, C, Y, W 135) meningococcal vaccine in children: immunogenicity and safety.

Tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine (groups A, C, Y and W 135) was administered (s.c.) to 26 healthy children, aged three to 13 years old, in order to assess safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. Side effects were very mild in all children, generally consisting of local soreness for a few hours following injection. A fourfold increase in bactericidal antibody titres was obtained for the four components in 100% of initially seronegative children. This vaccine thus appears as safe and immunogenic in children as it is in adults.