meningococcal group c conjugate vaccine

Meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine is a monovalent conjugate vaccine used for active immunization to prevent invasive meningococcal disease caused by *Neisseria meningitidis* serogroup C. The vaccine consists of the capsular polysaccharide of the serogroup C bacteria chemically linked (conjugated) to a carrier protein, typically either CRM197 (a non-toxic mutant of diphtheria toxin) or tetanus toxoid. This conjugation technology converts the polysaccharide from a T-cell independent to a T-cell dependent antigen, which allows the vaccine to induce high-affinity antibodies and immunological memory, making it effective even in infants and young children. First introduced in the United Kingdom in 1999, it was the world's first national meningococcal C conjugate vaccination program and has demonstrated high effectiveness (approximately 98%) and the ability to provide herd protection.

Brand names

MenjugateMeningitecNeisVac-CMeninvact

Other names

MenC vaccineMeningococcal C conjugate vaccineGroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine