An 18-year-old man seeks travel advice before going to central Africa. He was diagnosed with Crohn disease 3 years ago but currently feels well and has been asymptomatic on azathioprine and adalimumab for the last year. A review of medical records shows documentation of meningococcal polysaccharide conjugate vaccine at age 11. The patient has had no vaccines since then but received all the recommended childhood vaccinations prior to that. His vital signs and physical examination are normal. Which of the following vaccines is recommended for this patient?
Meningococcal vaccination | |
Routine schedule |
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High-risk patients (vaccinate if age ≥2 months) |
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Neisseria meningitidis meningitis is a rapidly progressive and potentially fatal infection with incidence that has significantly declined since the introduction of meningococcal vaccine (MCV). The quadrivalent (serotypes A, C, Y, W135) conjugate MCV is recommended for all adolescents at age 11-12. A booster dose should be given at age 16 due to waning immunity and increased risk of N meningitidis meningitis in older teenagers and young adults. In addition, vaccination against N meningitidis serotype B should be considered for adolescents age 16-18.
MCV is also recommended prior to travel to an endemic region, such as most of sub-Saharan Africa and the Muslim hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. In addition, young adults in large groups who live in close quarters (eg, military recruits, college students in dormitories) should be immunized due to increased risk of infection. Finally, vaccination should be provided to those with complement deficiency or functional or anatomic asplenia due to increased risk of infection by encapsulated organisms, including N meningitidis.
This patient did not receive MCV at age 16 and has upcoming travel to central Africa; a booster dose of MCV is recommended. He should also be offered the intramuscular, inactivated typhoid vaccine due to risk of transmission via contaminated food and water in central Africa. In addition, the patient should receive the inactivated influenza vaccination annually.
(Choices A, B, D, and E) Intranasal influenza; measles, mumps, and rubella; oral typhoid; and varicella vaccines are live-attenuated vaccines. Live vaccines have a potential to cause disseminated disease in those who are immunocompromised (eg, severe combined immunodeficiency) or immunosuppressed, such as this patient who is receiving tumor necrosis factor antagonists (eg, adalimumab), and should be avoided.
Educational objective:
Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for adolescents age 11-12 with a booster at age 16. Additional indications include those with complement deficiency or asplenia, college students living in dormitories, and travelers to endemic regions. Live-attenuated vaccines should be avoided in patients receiving immunosuppressants (eg, tumor necrosis factor antagonists).