Background

In the United States, persons 16-23 years-of-age are recommended to receive serogroup B meningococcal (MenB) vaccine series. We estimated series completion rates for the two licensed MenB vaccines that have different dosing schedules: MenB-4C (2-doses administered at least one month apart) and MenB-FHbp (2-doses administered at 0 and 6 months).

Methods

This retrospective analysis of insurance claims data, included 16-23 year-olds who received a MenB vaccination (index date) on/after 01/01/2017 in the MarketScan Commercial Claims Encounters (through 11/30/2018) Multi-State Medicaid Databases (9/30/2018), and were continuously enrolled for 6 months prior and 15 months post-index date. Kaplan-Meier curves estimated time to 2-dose completion and chi-squared tests assessed statistical significance. For individuals who did not complete their series, potential missed opportunities for series completion were identified as preventive care or vaccine administrative office visits during 15-months follow-up.

Results

Among 156,080 eligible commercially insured individuals, 61% of those who initiated MenB-4C and 50% of those who initiated MenB-FHbp completed the 2-dose series within 15 months (p-value <0.0001) (Fig 1a). For 57,082 eligible Medicaid beneficiaries, completion rates were 48% and 34% for MenB-4C and MenB-FHbp, respectively (p-value <0.0001) (Fig 1b). For both vaccines combined, completion rates were 57% and 45% for Commercial and Medicaid, respectively. Of the 67,523 commercially insured individuals who did not complete their series, 40% had at least one missed opportunity for series completion (35% for Medicaid).

Conclusions

While 2-dose completion rates are higher among those who initiate MenB-4C compared to MenB-FHbp, overall MenB vaccine completion rates are suboptimal. To ensure full benefits of MenB vaccination, it is critical to improve completion rates and reduce potential missed opportunities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Business & Decision Life Sciences (Coordinator: Quentin Rayée).