International coordinating group on vaccine provision for epidemic meningitis: report of the annual meeting, 22 September 2021

Overview

The International Coordinating Group (ICG) on vaccine provision for epidemic meningitis was formed in 1997 after a large-scale epidemic caused by Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) serogroup A (Nm-A) that resulted in over 20 000 deaths across the meningitis belt of Sahelian West Africa. The ICG acts as a global mechanism for allocation of vaccines from global stockpiles to respond to emergency requests for outbreaks of major infectious diseases. In addition to vaccines, the ICG for meningitis maintains a stockpile of ceftriaxone for management of meningitis cases. Stockpiled meningococcal vaccine doses nearing expiration are repurposed for preventive campaigns in countries at high risk of outbreaks.