The first vaccine which protects against the majority of invasive meningococcal type B infections is now reimbursed by Health Insurance.
Marketed in France since December 2013, Bexsero has been reimbursed since Monday (Official Journal of December 18). The coverage amounts to 65%, for the populations at risk defined by the recommendations of the High Council of Public Health: these are the patients no longer having a spleen or suffering from a dysfunction of this organ, patients who have had a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, or people with innate or induced immune deficiencies. Reimbursement will also be effective for people in an epidemic situation.
For all other people, including children from the age of 2 months, the vaccine is not covered by social security but it can be partially reimbursed by certain complementary organizations.
Sold at a price of € 90.08 incl.tax per dose, the public price will rise to € 88.43 incl.tax on January 1, 2015, in application of the new margin for pharmacists, according to My Vaccines.
The Bexsero vaccine would be, according to Novartis, “the first broad spectrum vaccine” against meningitis B. It covers 70 to 90% of meningococcal B strains in European countries. In France, it covers 85%.
Meningitis B, uncommon in France (390 cases in 2011), is particularly feared. It often strikes children or adolescents without any particular risk factor. If it is fatal in only one in ten cases, it can leave serious consequences.
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