People 2 months and older who are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) should be vaccinated routinely against meningococcal disease, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) committee.
The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) cited evidence that HIV-infected people are at a five- to 24-fold increased risk of contracting the disease, primarily due to serogroups C, W and Y.
It recommended people 2 months and older infected with HIV receive a meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY) vaccine.
ACIP’s recommendations must be approved by the CDC director and, if adopted, are published as official recommendations in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The Academy will review the CDC’s changes and make official policy recommendations of its own.