Which patient is a candidate for both MenACWY and MenB vaccines?

The selection of a 10-year-old who recently underwent splenectomy as a candidate for both the MenACWY (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) and MenB (meningococcal B vaccine) is appropriate for several reasons.

Patients who are asplenic or functionally asplenic, like those who have had their spleen removed, are at an increased risk for infections caused by encapsulated organisms, including Neisseria meningitidis, which causes meningococcal disease. This increased risk necessitates vaccination against both serogroup A, C, W, and Y, provided by the MenACWY vaccine, and serogroup B, covered by the MenB vaccine.

Vaccination in these patients is critical in preventing serious complications associated with meningococcal infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) specifically recommends that individuals who are at higher risk for meningococcal disease, including those with an absent spleen, receive both vaccines to achieve comprehensive protection against various strains of the organism.

Other candidates listed, such as a 5-year-old with a cold, a healthy adult, and an elderly patient, either do not meet the specific criteria for high-risk factors or do