Meningococcal disease is caused by a bacterium. There are several types of this bacterium. The disease can lead to meningitis and blood poisoning. Sometimes with serious consequences, such as amputation of arms or legs or even death.
Menigokokken
RIVM conducted research into the meningococcal W bacteria. A striking feature of the type W outbreak was that people became ill from certain strains of the meningococcal W bacteria. These strains can be recognized by their genetic information. RIVM looked at why people become seriously ill from these strains and not from others.
bacteria
Without vaccination, most people have no or very few antibodies, which can help kill these bacteria. The bacteria therefore remain alive and can cause serious illness. People who were vaccinated did have antibodies against the bacteria. This makes the defense mechanism to kill the bacteria works better. It then succeeds in killing all seriously pathogenic forms of the meningococcal bacteria. After five years, the vaccinated young people studied were still well protected.
The vaccination also appears to work very well against other tested types of meningococcal bacteria that make people seriously ill. Knowledge about how the vaccine works helps to better combat possible other types in the future. The knowledge also helps to protect people with reduced resistance.
Vaccination
Toddlers aged 14 months and teenagers aged 14 years are offered a vaccination against the meningococcal bacteria types A, C, W and Y through the National Immunization Programme. This is done to prevent serious diseases caused by meningococci. This vaccination was added in 2018 after an outbreak of meningococcal W in the Netherlands in 2017-2018. Before that time, children were only vaccinated against type C. The vaccinations are free and voluntary.
By: National Education Guide