Objective:

To evaluate the clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of meningococcal B vaccination in the Dutch National Immunization Program (NIP) for infants and adolescents, considering recent developments.

Key Findings:

• The incidence of IMD-B is highest among infants (0-5 years) and adolescents (15-24 years), indicating a critical target for vaccination.
• Vaccination could prevent significant morbidity and mortality associated with IMD-B, emphasizing the need for policy change.
• Cost-effectiveness of vaccination is influenced by disease incidence, vaccine effectiveness, and long-term sequelae, highlighting the importance of ongoing evaluation.

Interpretation:

The analysis suggests that updated vaccination strategies may improve health outcomes and cost-effectiveness, warranting urgent reconsideration of IMD-B vaccination inclusion in the NIP.

Limitations:

• The model does not account for herd immunity effects as the vaccines do not prevent serogroup B carriage, which may underestimate overall benefits.
• Cost-effectiveness estimates may vary with changes in vaccine pricing and disease incidence, and potential biases in the model should be acknowledged.

Conclusion:

The findings indicate potential benefits of including IMD-B vaccination in the NIP, particularly with updated vaccination schedules and costs, underscoring the need for immediate policy review.