MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS AND VACCINATION: CHALLENGES FOR OUTBREAK PREVENTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CONTROL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63330/sasciencesv6n2-199Keywords:
Epidemiological surveillance, Meningococcal disease, Meningococcal meningitis, Prevention, VaccinationAbstract
Meningococcal meningitis remains an important public health problem due to its rapid clinical progression, potential lethality, and possibility of outbreaks, making vaccination and epidemiological surveillance essential components of its prevention and control. This study consists of a qualitative and descriptive literature review aimed at analyzing the importance of vaccination in preventing meningococcal disease and identifying the main challenges related to vaccination coverage, outbreak occurrence, and epidemiological control. The methodology is based on the analysis of scientific articles, official documents, and guidelines addressing meningococcal meningitis, immunization, and health surveillance. The analyzed studies indicate that vaccination contributes to reducing the incidence and circulation of serogroups covered by available vaccines; however, insufficient vaccination coverage, inequalities in access, vaccine hesitancy, and variations in serogroup distribution may compromise the effectiveness of preventive actions. It is concluded that controlling meningococcal meningitis requires maintaining high vaccination coverage, continuous epidemiological surveillance, timely identification of cases and outbreaks, and immunization strategies adapted to the epidemiological profile of the population.
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