404 - Awareness of and Attitudes toward Meningitis among 19–23-Year-Old Young Adults and Parents of 16–18-Year-Old Adolescents

Invasive meningococcal disease (“meningitis” in this study) is rare but life-threatening. Vaccination against meningococcal serogroup B (MenB) is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for healthy 16–23-year-olds based on shared clinical decision-making (SCDM) between patients/parents and providers. However, the level of awareness of meningitis causes, symptoms, and risks among parents of older adolescents and among young adults in the United States (US) is unknown.

Objective:

This study evaluated the awareness of and attitudes toward meningitis among parents of MenB-vaccinated (Vx) 16–18-year-old adolescents (PoA-Vx) and parents of MenB-non-vaccinated (nVx) 16–18-year-old adolescents (PoA-nVx), and among Vx and nVx 19–23-year-old young adults (YA).

Design/Methods:

An online survey was developed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding meningitis and MenB vaccination among PoA and YA. Participants were randomly recruited from a US-based patient panel in Sept–Oct 2022 (Figure 1).

Results:

A total of 606 participants were included: 305 PoA (151 Vx, 154 nVx), 301 YA (150 Vx, 151 nVx); baseline characteristics are reported in Table 1. Among PoA-nVx and nVx YA, 39% and 50% reported not being aware of MenB vaccines. Awareness of meningitis causes, symptoms, and risks is summarized in Table 2, and was greater among PoA vs YA. More PoA (56% Vx, 54% nVx) were very interested in learning about meningitis compared to YA (36% Vx, 21% nVx). Only half of PoA (50% Vx, 49% nVx) were concerned about their child contracting meningitis, and only one-fifth of YA (21% Vx or nVx) were concerned about contracting meningitis. Approximately half of participants across cohorts perceived the risk of developing meningitis as not likely/not likely at all in their/their child’s lifetime (48% PoA-Vx, 44% PoA-nVx, 50% Vx or nVx YA). More PoA (54% Vx, 56% nVx) viewed the potential impact of meningitis as severe, vs YA (38% Vx, 36% nVx). More PoA-Vx (82%) reported being aware of how to protect from meningitis, compared to PoA-nVx (58%), Vx YA (69%), and nVx YA (36%). Among PoA, 85% Vx and 62% nVx agreed/completely agreed that vaccination is the best way to protect from meningitis, compared to YA (63% Vx, 54% nVx).

Conclusion(s):

This study identified gaps in awareness of meningitis (causes, symptoms, risk) among PoA and YA in the US regardless of MenB vaccination status. Targeted patient/parent disease education paired with medical education for healthcare providers, including vaccine recommendations, may help close these gaps and increase opportunities to discuss MenB vaccination under SCDM.