Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

BACKGROUND: After immunization with serogroup C meningococcal (MenC) conjugate vaccine, antibody responses and vaccine effectiveness are sustained in adolescents, in contrast to rapid waning in young children. We investigated the persistence of serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titers in children 6 years after immunization with MenC vaccine (primed between 2 months and 6 years of age). The response to a Haemophilus influenzae type b-MenC conjugate (Hib-MenC) booster was also measured. METHODS: A phase 4 clinical trial was conducted among 250 healthy 6-12-year-old children. SBA titers were measured before, 1 month after, and 1 year after Hib-MenC administration. The correlate of protection was an SBA titer of 8. RESULTS: An SBA titer of 8 was observed in 61 (25% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 20%-30%]) of 244 participants (mean age, 9.1 years; mean interval since MenC immunization, 6.75 years). The proportion with an SBA titer of 8 and the SBA geometric mean titer increased with age, from 12% (95% CI, 4%-23%) to 48% (95% CI, 29%-67%) and from 2.90 (95% CI, 2.11-3.99) to 17.20 (95% CI, 6.80-43.5), respectively, from a mean age of 7.0 to 12.1 years. One month after the Hib-MenC booster, all participants had an SBA titer of 8, which was sustained in 99.6% at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of waning antibody, the majority of 6-12-year-old children in the United Kingdom have inadequate serological protection against MenC. The persistence of MenC immunity and the response to a Hib-MenC booster is dependent on age at priming. A booster was highly effective in this cohort and could sustain population immunity against MenC disease. Trial registration. Current Controlled Trials ( http://www.controlled-trials.com ) identifier: ISRCTN72858898 .

Original publication

DOI

10.1086/652765

Type

Journal article

Journal

Clin Infect Dis

Publication Date

15/06/2010

Volume

50

Pages

1601 - 1610

Keywords

Antibodies, Bacterial, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Haemophilus Vaccines, Haemophilus influenzae type b, Humans, Immunization, Secondary, Immunoglobulin G, Infant, Male, Meningitis, Meningococcal, Meningococcal Vaccines, Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C, Treatment Outcome, United Kingdom, Vaccines, Conjugate