Developing conjugate vaccines for Africa

Research shows that if one links a protein such as diphtheria or tetanus toxoid to a polysaccharide antigen the resultant vaccine works better and gives better protection over a long period of time.

This conjugation process has been used to produce three meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccines that are currently in use in the United Kingdom. These vaccines were licensed in 1999 and recent reports indicate that they are safe and highly effective in decreasing the incidence of meningitis C disease in the country.

Using the same conjugation technology, it is possible to develop polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines for use in Africa that would

• Be immunogenic in young children
• Induce long-term protection
• Induce herd immunity

Taking these and other factors into consideration, including the fact that serogroup A meningococci currently account for the majority of epidemic and endemic disease in the meningitis belt, the Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP) has decided to develop a serogroup A conjugate vaccine for use in mass vaccination campaigns in Africa.

The vaccine has no commercial market outside of Africa and it would not be developed without the support of MVP. It is estimated that the project will need 250 million doses of conjugate A vaccine over 10 years to inoculate all individuals between 1-29 years of age.

Photo Credit: Benoît Lange (left); WHO file (right)

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