Public health impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing MenACWY vaccination strategies in Germany.

Summary: Right now, babies in Germany get a vaccine to protect them from one type of meningitis (called MenC). But as kids grow into teenagers, they are at risk for other types of this dangerous disease, too. Researchers used a computer model to see what would happen if Germany gave a broader vaccine (called MenACWY) to both babies and teenagers. They found that giving this wider-protection vaccine to babies at 12 months and again to teens at 16 years old would save hundreds of lives and stop thousands of kids from getting sick. Plus, it is a great value for the money! The study suggests Germany should update its rules to keep kids and teens safe, especially since outbreaks have gone up since the COVID-19 pandemic.