Vaccination rates against meningococcal disease in Argentina are declining as children grow older, raising concerns over community immunity and increasing risks of severe disease among various age groups.
In Argentina, vaccination against meningococcal disease is strong at the start of infancy but weakens as children grow, according to data from the Ministry of Health cited by La Nación. Nearly nine in 10 babies receive the first dose at three months, yet coverage falls with each step of the schedule and reaches its lowest point at the booster recommended at 11 years of age. The pattern underlines a familiar public-health problem: beginning a vaccine series is not enough if families do not return for the later doses.
The ministry’s 2025 figures show coverage of 89.9% for the first dose at three months, 85% for the second at five months, 76.9% for the 15-month booster and 57.2% for the 11-year dose. All of those results sit below the 95% target set for vaccines in the national immunisation calendar. When late adolescent doses are also counted, coverage rises to 75.4%, but it still falls well short of the level officials aim to achieve.
Doctors say the missed doses matter because meningococcal disease can escalate with alarming speed. Laura Alonso, head of the vaccination clinic at Helios Salud, told La Nación that recognising warning signs early and keeping up with vaccination are both essential, adding that lower coverage leaves more people without proper protection and can allow bacteria to circulate more easily in the community. Enrique Casanueva, a paediatric infectious-diseases specialist and emeritus head of the children’s infection service at Hospital Universitario Austral, said the goal of the national programme is coverage of at least 95%, with boosters playing a key role in building reliable immunity.
Meningitis itself is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord, and it can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites. The bacterial form is the most dangerous. The World Health Organisation says one in six people who develop bacterial meningitis dies and one in five is left with significant after-effects. These can include hearing loss, seizures, vision problems and difficulties with speech, learning or memory. In severe cases, the disease can lead to amputations.
The risk is especially acute with meningococcal infection. Symptoms can include fever, neck stiffness, headache, sensitivity to light, nausea and vomiting. In babies, the signs may be less specific, such as irritability, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness or a bulging soft spot on the head. La Nación reported that some patients can die within 24 hours of the first symptoms, even if they receive treatment. Alonso also noted that adolescents are more likely to carry meningococcus without symptoms and pass it on, which is why vaccination at that age helps protect not only the individual but also younger children and others around them.
Argentina’s national calendar includes vaccines against Haemophilus influenzae type b, pneumococcus and several meningococcal serogroups, including A, C, Y and W. Casanueva said a separate vaccine for meningococcal B is not part of the universal schedule and is reserved for people with increased risk. That distinction matters because the strain circulating most often in the country appears to be B: specialists cited data showing it accounted for 86.5% of characterised invasive meningococcal cases in children and adolescents up to 15 years old between 2023 and 2025.
The issue is not limited to childhood. Adults can also develop meningitis, and the risk rises with age, certain illnesses and conditions that weaken the immune system. For that reason, Alonso said families should review vaccination status across all stages of life rather than assuming the childhood schedule is the end of the matter. With World Meningitis Day being marked, the message from specialists is clear: prevention depends not just on access to vaccines, but on completing every dose on time.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
