Date of submission of the HTAC Recommendation: 10 February 2026
Date of notification to HTAC on the SOH decision: 07 May 2026
The Secretary of Health concurs with final recommendation of the HTA Council on Meningococcal polysaccharide groups A, C, W-135 and Y conjugate vaccine for active immunization of individuals from the age of 6 weeks; populations at high-risk for invasive diseases* against invasive meningococcal diseases caused by Neisseria meningitidis group A, C, W-135 and Y through the Department of Health (DOH) Department Circular No. 2026-0217 “Inclusion of Meningococcal Polysaccharide Groups A, C, W-135 and Y Conjugate Vaccine in the Philippine National Drug Formulary” published on 06 May 2026.
As a final recommendation, the HTA Council recommends the government financing of the Meningococcal polysaccharide groups A, C, W-135 and Y conjugate vaccine for individuals from the age of 6 weeks (pediatric population) and populations at high-risk for invasive diseases*, with priority for:
- areas with high incidence
- populations at high-risk for invasive diseases*, regardless of their region
*population at high-risk for invasive disease as defined by PIDSP guidelines (2026) and WHO Meningococcal Vaccine position paper (2011):
- Individuals with persistent complement component deficiencies (including those with inherited or chronic deficiencies in C3, C5-9, properdin, factor D, factor H)
- Users of complement inhibitors
- Individuals with anatomic/functional asplenia (including sickle cell disease)
- People living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- Travelers to or resident of areas where meningococcal disease is hyperendemic or epidemic
- Men who have sex with men
- Adolescents and college students in congregate settings
- Individuals belonging to a defined risk group during a community or institutional meningococcal outbreak
- Laboratory workers at risk of exposure to meningococci
to be rolled out, contingent on resource availability, acknowledging that despite its high cost and impact on the DOH National Immunization Program (NIP) budget, it will be beneficial for the target population as it mitigates invasive meningococcal diseases. Specifically, the HTA Council recommends the following meningococcal vaccines for the specific age groups:
- Infants 6 weeks to < 12 months
- MenACWY-TT 5 μg/0.5mL, lyophilized powder for solution for injection (IM)
- Children ≥ 12 months
- MenACWY-TT 5 μg/0.5mL, lyophilized powder for solution for injection (IM)
- MenACWY-TT 10 μg/0.5 mL, solution for injection (IM)
For further details, please refer to the documents below: