Are Physicians Obligated to Tell Parents about the Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine?

To the Editor: A recent article argues for inclusion of meningococcal serogroup B vaccine in the routine Ontario immunization schedule (1). Unfortunately, titres to some vaccine components wane significantly over a period as short as 12 months after a primary series, indicating that frequent boosters may be required (2,3). There was only a 16.5% (95% CI 1.5% to 29.2%) decline in carriage rates when university students were immunized (4), potentially yielding less herd effect than with conjugated meningococcal vaccines (5,6). The authors of the article state “... even while the vaccine is not yet included in routine vaccination programs, it remains the responsibility of pediatricians, general practitioners and public health officials to educate and advise parents about the vaccine, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding immunization of their children” (1). The advice from the Canadian Medical Protective Association on this dilemma is: