OBJECTIVES: Neisseria meningitidis causes Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD), with high fatality rates and severe long-term sequalae, while serogroup B causes most cases in Europe. MenB vaccination is recommended in Austria (individuals <25 years), in Belgium (individual basis for 2 months–5 years olds and high-risk groups) and in Greece (high-risk individuals). However, MenB vaccination is not in their national immunization programs (NIPs). In Spain, MenB vaccination is included in the NIP for newborns, while adolescent vaccination is recommended by scientific societies but not in the NIP.

METHODS: A cross-sectional physicians’ survey across Austria, Belgium, Greece and Spain analysed the impact of individual characteristics (income, health literacy, ethnicity) on MenB vaccination and assessed other key barriers and drivers of vaccination. An online questionnaire captured physicians’ practice characteristics, MenB vaccination rates and most influential factors of vaccination uptake. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were conducted to identify key barriers and drivers of vaccination and assess the impact of socio-economic status on MenB vaccination.

RESULTS: A total of 410 physicians participated in the study. The common top drivers of MenB vaccination and their ranges between countries are physicians’ recommendations for vaccination (25%-35%) and inclusion in the NIP (21%-35%), while the common top barriers are out-of-pocket payment for vaccination (20%-60%) and lack of awareness of the health benefits of vaccination (18%-20%). Finally, among the socio-economic factors that influence MenB vaccination rates, income, health literacy and ethnicity are moderately to highly impactful.

CONCLUSIONS: Clinical recommendations, inclusion in NIPs, as well as socio-economic factors like ethnicity, income and health literacy tend to influence MenB vaccination rates in Europe and need to be taken under consideration aiming to minimize health inequities, while optimizing vaccination strategies against a severe infectious disease, like IMD.