Giving meningitis vaccine to teenagers helps protect all age groups, shows study carried out in Greater Manchester
A landmark NIHR-supported research study carried out with thousands of participants in Greater Manchester has found that giving a meningitis vaccine to 14 to 19-year-olds helps protect people of all ages.
The large-scale study was conducted with students at schools across the country with more than 24,000 teenagers taking part. Greater Manchester was the highest recruiting region, with almost 5,200 teenagers involved.
The research was carried out after the UK introduced the MenACWY vaccine programme for teenagers in 2015 in response to rising rates of meningitis cases. The vaccination programme enrolled teenagers aged 14 to 19, where transmission of the meningococcal bacteria is known to be highest, with the ambition of creating herd immunity.
In two studies carried out in 2014 and 2018, research teams across the country took throat swabs from teenagers aged 16 to 18 and assessed the prevalence of meningitis causing bacteria before and after the introduction of the vaccination programme.
NIHR Clinical Research Network Greater Manchester supported the delivery of the study at schools and colleges in communities covered by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
In results published for the first time in Clinical Microbiology and Infection, researchers from the University of Oxford have found the vaccine substantially reduced carriage of the W and Y meningococcal groups, and sustained low levels of the C group.
One of the lead authors, Matthew Snape, who was Professor in Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group during the study, said:
“These studies report the results of throat swabs taken from over 24,000 teenagers in more than 170 secondary schools across the country, showing yet again the fantastic enthusiasm of the UK public for taking part in research.
“The results show us that by immunising teenagers with MenACWY vaccines, we not only protect them directly, but also reduce the risk of all others in the community suffering from meningitis and sepsis due to these bacteria.
“Immunising teenagers rather than infants means we get more benefit out of each dose given. These two studies therefore provide invaluable data to help us use these vaccines effectively, both in the UK and internationally.”
A total of 2,865 teenagers from the Stockport borough took part in the research.
Dr David Baxter, Principal Investigator for the trial at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We are extremely grateful to all of the students who took part, and to all the schools and colleges who supported us to deliver this vital study across the Stockport area.
“Thanks to their altruism and the hard work of our research team, Stockport really played its part in this research which has produced important results for the health of young people and society as a whole.”
The findings from the study align with other data from the UK showing that the incidence of MenW disease has fallen in all age groups since the teenage MenACWY vaccine programme began, not just in teenagers themselves.
The University of Oxford researchers added that, taken together, these data provide strong evidence for the need to target age groups with high rates of meningococcal transmission to make most effective use of these vaccines, and not necessarily immunising other age groups at high risk (e.g. infants).
Public Health and Mental Health Minister Dr Caroline Johnson said:
“This study shows why the MenACWY vaccination programme is so important, allowing young people to protect themselves and in turn all age groups from this potentially life-threatening disease.
“Vaccination remains the best line of defence against infectious diseases, including meningitis, and I encourage everyone eligible to take up their free jab.”
