Vaccination against meningococcus C has been around for almost 10 years. Despite its effectiveness against serious illness and its reimbursement, it is still not sufficiently practiced, at least in France. The film Nine C, produced under the aegis of Pfizer laboratories, aims to raise awareness in particular among 15-24 year olds, who are very rarely vaccinated although more exposed.
Nine-C, 9 situations inspired by real events
The film Nine C describes, with the visual and sound codes of today’s action film, 9 very mundane situations (concert hall, bus ride, party, sport, etc.) but risky. Indeed, meningococcus, one of the bacterial agents that can cause meningitis, is very contagious and is transmitted by direct, repeated, close and prolonged contact. Beyond the exposure of these risky situations, Nine C raises awareness of the first clinical signs of meningitis and recalls the importance of vaccination prevention:
Adolescents and young adults are targeted by this powerful film, both in content and in its form, because they are most at risk of asymptomatic carriage of meningococcus (without being sick), and can therefore transmit it during close contact. Return to the consequences of such an infection.
Meningococcus C, one of the bacteria responsible for meningitis
Infectious meningitis is linked either to viruses or bacteria. Among the latter, the most common are pneumococcus, streptococcus B and therefore meningococcus, or rather meningococci, responsible for around 500 serious infections per year.
In fact, there are 12 different kinds of meningococci, 5 of which are particularly dangerous. In France, we find in particular A, Y, W135, and especially B (the most common in France, around 60% of cases, for which there is still no vaccine), and C, which represents around 25 to 30% of cases.
C, a particularly serious form of meningitis
Meningococcus C can cause:
– Or septicemia: generalized blood infection with release of a toxin, which can cause purpura fulminans (see below) and serious complications, or death
– Or meningitis: infection of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord that can lead to death within 24 to 48 hours after symptoms appear
– Or both at the same time…
The first symptoms, keys to early diagnosis
Several unusual clinical signs may suggest the start of a meningococcal C infection:
– A poorly tolerated feveraccompanied by aches, coldness of the extremities (hands and feet), vomiting, violent headaches, discomfort in light (photophobia), drowsiness or even a stiff neck, the most typical sign (but sometimes difficult to highlight, particularly in infants)
– One or more red or purplish spots on the bodywithout specific location, suggestive of Purpura fulminans. The diagnosis is made by placing a glass on the spot: if it fades, it is not purpura; if it does not disappear with vitropression, it suggests purpura.
The presence of these clinical signs is an emergency and should lead to consultation very quickly.
Vaccination: the French delay
In England, Spain, Canada and the Netherlands, meningococcal C infections have decreased by more than 90% since the introduction of vaccination. But in France this is not the case, due to insufficient vaccination coverage. However, the vaccine is well tolerated and does not pose any particular problem, as recalled by Dr Muhamed-Kheir Taha, of the Pasteur Institute, during the presentation of Nine C. Scientists now have 10 years of hindsight on this vaccine, which only contains a fraction of the bacteria (pieces of its shell) and is therefore reassuring.
In order to expand this vaccination coverage, particularly to adolescents and young adults, health authorities included the vaccine in the vaccination schedule in mid-2009 for children and young people aged 1 to 24. This recommendation was followed in January 2010 by its reimbursement at 65%, which should make it possible to remove the last obstacles.
Nine-C, “Don’t wait for it to be true…”
Coming back to the film proposed by Pfizer (which produces one of the two vaccines available in France against meningitis C, Meningitec ®), it will be broadcast via social networks, websites like ours (its teaser is notably visible on our Meningitis file). It will also be viewable on the big screen, in 300 cinemas from June 29, or in the form of visuals in the free music press and in 760 targeted locations (postcards).
What do you think of this film? Will he succeed in convincing young people of the importance of prevention, of not waiting?let this be true” to be vaccinated, which will protect them and also limit the transmission of this serious disease, as recalled by Jimmy Voisine, president of Méningites France-Association Audrey law 1901? Furthermore, in terms of form, do you find it realistic, anxiety-provoking, inciting, dramatic, polemicist or even offbeat, surprising? Don’t hesitate to discuss it, for example on our health forums!
Jean-Philippe Rivière
Source : presentation of the film Nine C, Pfizer laboratories and Fantom agency, in the presence of Dr Muhamed-Kheir Taha, researcher in infectious diseases and head of the invasive bacterial infections unit at the Pasteur Institute, and Jimmy Voisine, president of Méningites France – Association Audrey, June 15, 2011