ABSTRACT
VA-MENGOC-BC vaccine has been administered to Cuban infants since 1991 through the National Immunization Program (NIP) so it was necessary to evaluate its effects on 1-4 years-old children included in the highest risk group. To this end, a descriptive study of the morbidity and mortality from meningococal disease was carried out taking the vaccine histories of 145 cases occurred from 1991 to 1996 into account. The decreasing trend of the incidence density (ID) of meningococcal disease in all the age groups in the studied period was among the most important results, the highest decline was observed in one-year old infants with an ID of. 10.8 per 100,000 children/years at the end of the period. The percent distribution of occurrence showed a predominance of one-year old group at the beginning of the program. Implementation, and a change to 3-4 years old group at the end of the period. A high of percent of vaccinated sick children had been immunized against MD over one year ago (697.5 days as average). 35 children died during the period and the highest mortality density decline (1 per 100,000 children a year) was observed as of 1993; 2 years-old children were at highest risk of death. Seventy three percent (73.1%) of those vaccinated had been immunized for over once year. The general lethality was 24.1%, the lowest was 14.3% in one year old children. The changes occurred in meningococcal disease behaviour within this high risk group, which are attributed to the administration of vaccine as part of the NIP fully justifies the continuation of the application of this vaccine.
