TOPLINE

Across 10 integrated US health systems, 39% of individuals aged 10-25 years with high-risk conditions such as asplenia, sickle cell disease, or complement component deficiencies (CCD) received one or more doses of the meningococcal B vaccine as of 2023. Among individuals aged 16-25 years, vaccination initiation and completion rates varied by region.

METHODOLOGY

• Researchers conducted an analysis using electronic health record (EHR) data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink, which includes 10 healthcare systems across 12 US states, to assess the administration and coverage patterns of the meningococcal B vaccine.
• A total of 2,253,387 individuals aged 10-25 years were enrolled at 1 of 10 participating sites in 2023.
• The analysis examined the administration and completion patterns of the meningococcal B vaccine in 2023 among individuals aged 16-25 years and those aged 10-25 years with documented high-risk conditions (asplenia, sickle cell disease, or CCD).
• Sites were grouped into three US geographic regions: Western, Central, and Eastern.
• Series completion was defined according to CDC vaccination recommendations and brand-based dosing requirements.

TAKEAWAY

• The most common age at meningococcal B vaccination was 18 years (34.1%), followed by 17 years (27.3%) and 16 years (15.6%); only 2.1% initiated before 16 years of age.
• The initiation rate began to decline slightly at 20 years of age in the Eastern region, 22 years of age in the Central region, and 23 years of age in the Western region. Among those who started the vaccine series, the completion rate increased with age, peaking at 20 years of age in the Western region and 22 years of age in the Central and Eastern regions.
• Among individuals aged 10-25 years with high-risk conditions, 48% with asplenia, 44% with sickle cell disease, and 19% with CCD had received one or more doses of the meningococcal B vaccine; series completion among initiators was highest among those with sickle cell disease (77%-89%).
• Female sex was associated with a higher likelihood of receiving one or more doses of the meningococcal B vaccine than male sex (odds ratio [OR], 1.26; 95% CI, 1.24-1.28); the Eastern region was associated with a higher likelihood of receiving meningococcal B vaccination than the Western region (OR, 3.39; 95% CI, 3.33-3.44).

IN PRACTICE

"[The study] data suggest variation in application of SCDM [shared clinical decision-making] across geographic regions, health systems, racial groups, and ages. This highlights challenges that come with implementation of SCDM recommendations and their potential to contribute to inequitable vaccination uptake," the authors wrote.

SOURCE

The study was led by Holly C. Groom of Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, Oregon. It was published online on August 4, 2026, in The Journal of Pediatrics.

LIMITATIONS

Vaccination data from EHR and Immunization Information Systems may be incomplete for some individuals. The study used diagnostic codes alone to identify patients with CCD, which may have included individuals without true high-risk indications.

DISCLOSURES

The study was funded by the CDC. Several authors reported receiving financial support from various pharmaceutical companies and/or the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.