Positive Recommendation Issued for 5-in-1 Meningococcal Vaccine

Vaccines are currently recommended to help protect individuals over 10 years old against disease-causing serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, B, C, W, and Y).

To address the current under-vaccination rate, a new meningococcal vaccine has now been recommended to reduce the number of injections.

GSK plc announced that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has voted to recommend the use of PENMENVY as part of the adolescent meningococcal vaccination schedule.

Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer at GSK, commented in a press release on April 15, 2025, "We welcome this positive recommendation that can help strengthen disease prevention efforts in the US. Pentavalent vaccines can reduce the number of injections required to help protect against invasive meningococcal disease, especially disease caused by serogroup B."

Although MenB is the leading cause of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among this population, less than 13% of 17-year-olds received the recommended two-dose vaccination series; around 32% received at least one dose according to 2023 CDC survey data.

The CDC says IMD is an uncommon but serious illness that can lead to death for up to one in ten of those who contract it in as little as 24 hours from onset, despite treatment.

Adopted ACIP recommendations are published as official CDC recommendations.