Argentina meningococcal vaccination rates below 95% target, Health Ministry says
- Argentina's vaccination coverage against meningococcus reaches 89.9% for the first dose administered at three months of age, but drops to 76.9% by the 15-month booster, according to data...
- At age 11, coverage sits at 57.2%, reflecting an increase from 51.9% recorded in 2024 but still leaving a substantial immunity gap in the adolescent population.
- Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and can stem from bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections.
Argentina’s vaccination coverage against meningococcus reaches 89.9% for the first dose administered at three months of age, but drops to 76.9% by the 15-month booster, according to data from the Ministry of Health. The figures show that immunization rates remain well below the national target of 95% across both infants and adolescents.
Adolescent Vaccination Coverage Increases but Immunity Gap Remains
At age 11, coverage sits at 57.2%, reflecting an increase from 51.9% recorded in 2024 but still leaving a substantial immunity gap in the adolescent population. Public health authorities note that these figures represent a specific population and period, meaning remaining percentages do not necessarily reflect zero vaccination, as some individuals receive doses late.
Meningitis Spreads Through Close Contact and Respiratory Secretions
Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and can stem from bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic infections. Transmission of the meningococcus bacterium occurs through respiratory and throat secretions during close contact with an infected person or an asymptomatic carrier. Enrique Casanueva, an infectious disease pediatrician and Chief Emeritus of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Hospital Universitario Austral, emphasized the necessity of reaching high coverage targets.
“El objetivo de las vacunas incorporadas al Calendario Nacional es alcanzar coberturas iguales o superiores al 95%. Completar los esquemas con los refuerzos es clave para obtener una protección adecuada”
Enrique Casanueva
Casanueva also noted that epidemiological data points to the significance of the meningococcus B serogroup in Argentina, which accounted for 86.5% of invasive meningococcal disease cases characterized in children and adolescents up to age 15 between 2023 and 2025. While the National Calendar includes protection against serogroups A, C, Y, and W, a specific vaccine against meningococcus B exists outside the standard calendar and is currently restricted to individuals at increased risk.