Serogroup shifts are significant for several reasons:
- Vaccine Development and Efficacy: Vaccines are typically designed to target specific serogroups. A shift can render existing vaccines less effective, necessitating the development of new ones. - Epidemiological Surveillance: Monitoring serogroup prevalence helps in understanding disease dynamics and planning public health interventions. - Outbreak Prediction and Control: Knowledge of potential serogroup shifts can aid in predicting and controlling outbreaks.
