The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices formally recommended Pfizer's meningitis vaccine Oct. 25, five days after the FDA granted it full approval.
The single meningococcal vaccine is pentavalent — meaning it protects against five different meningococcal groups: A, B, C, W and Y.
The advisory committee voted 10-4 in favor of recommending the vaccine for use when current options of an MenACWY vaccine and MenB are recommended in the same visit, which is the case "for healthy individuals ages 16–23 years who choose to receive MenB vaccination and individuals 10 years and older who are at increased risk," according to information published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Now that the advisory committee has given its recommendations, CDC Director Mandy Cohen, MD, will review them and decide on their approval.