Xavier and yogender stayed in the same hostel of the same university. Xavier develops an infection due to group B meningococcus. After few days yogender develops an infection due to Group C meningococcus. All of the following are true statements except: (A) Educate students about meningococcal transmission and take preventive measures, (B) Chemoprophylaxis to all againts both group B and group C, (C) Vaccine prophylaxis of contacts of xavier, (D) Vaccine prophylaxis of contacts of yogendra
Answer is C. Monovalent and polyvalent vaccines containing the capsular polysaccharides of groups A, C, W-135 and Y are available. The vaccine induces good immunity after a single dose in older children and adults but is of little value in children below 2 years of age as the polysaccharide antigen is T-cell independent. Immunity is group specific. There is no group B vaccine available at present. Conjugate vaccine is now available, where the polysaccharide antigen conjugated to the diphtheria toxoid which makes the vaccine immunogenic for children below the age of 2 years. Reference: Textbook of Microbiology; Anathanarayan and panicker's; 10th edition; Page no: 233