Invasive meningococcal disease and prevention through vaccination : Towards an optimal meningococcal serogroup C vaccination schedule

Abstract

The main objective of the studies described in this thesis is to contribute to the optimization of the Dutch routine immunization schedule for MenC. The following research questions are addressed: 1. What is the current burden of invasive meningococcal disease in the Netherlands in terms of disease course and outcome? 2. Is the disease course or outcome of IMD related to meningococcal serogroup or clonal complex? 3. How long do MenC-specific antibody levels persist after primary MenCC vaccination? 4. Are the kinetics of MenC-specific antibody levels in response to primary MenCC vaccination in children with autoimmune disease different from the kinetics in healthy controls? 5. What would be the most appropriate age in (pre) adolescence to administer a MenCC booster vaccination and induce long-standing levels of sufficient MenC specific antibody in serum? 6. Does parenteral MenCC vaccination induce MenC-specific antibodies in saliva and to which extent do these levels correlate with MenC-specific antibody levels in serum? 7. What is the role of MenC-specific memory B cells in the persistence of MenC-specific antibody levels?