An Increase in Group B Invasive Meningococcal Disease Among Adolescents and Young Adults in England Following Easing of COVID-19 Containment Measures

Abstract

In July 2021 COVID-19 containment measures were withdrawn in England. Between September and November 2021, IMD cases increased with group B disease in adolescents/young adults rising sharply and exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The serogroup and age distribution of these cases suggests that meningococcal vaccination programmes are maintaining low rates of group C/W/Y disease however low immunity against group B strains and high transmission of meningococci among adolescents/young adults resulted in the return of group B disease, particularly in university students.

Note:
Funding: Invasive meningococcal disease surveillance in England in funded and performed by the UK Health Security Agency.

Declaration of Interests: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Immunisation and Countermeasures Division has provided vaccine manufacturers with post-marketing surveillance reports which the Marketing Authorisation Holders are required to submit to the UK Licensing authority in compliance with their Risk Management Strategy. A cost recovery charge is made for these reports. SL performs contract work on behalf of St George’s University of London for GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur. SAC, AL, LW, XB, JL and RB perform contract research on behalf of the UKHSA for GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, and Sanofi Pasteur.

Ethics Approval Statement: UKHSA has legal permission, provided by Regulation 3 of The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002, to process patient confidential information for national surveillance of communicable diseases and as such, individual patient consent is not required to access records.

Keywords: meningococcal, COVID-19,