lena Rozanova, Deputy Director General for Innovations at the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency, spoke about the Russian vaccine against meningococcal disease.
The scientist points out that the Mengovax B vaccine represents a unique Russian innovation in the field of meningococcal prevention, noting the target groups for vaccination, the number of doses required, and the importance of strengthening protection against this disease.
Rozanova confirmed that the new vaccine provides protection against five dangerous serogroups of meningococcal disease, including serotype B, which is not covered by the traditional quadrivalent vaccines. She noted that this serotype currently accounts for about 33% of recorded meningococcal cases, with the percentage rising to 35% in some regions.
She added that all the components of the vaccine are contained within a single vial, which facilitates its administration and reduces the time required to prepare it, as well as reducing the likelihood of errors occurring during its handling by medical personnel.
She pointed out that the vaccine does not contain any living components, and that viral vector technologies were not used in its development.
She stated that clinical trials for the Mengovax B vaccine are currently being conducted on children aged two years and older, explaining that the vaccination program requires two doses, while its protective effectiveness lasts for several years.
Veronika Skvortsova, head of the Russian Federal Medical-Biological Agency, had previously announced that the first Russian pentavalent vaccine against meningococcal disease, Mengovax B, is scheduled to be officially registered during 2026.
