Meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine is immunogenic in infancy and primes for memory.
The safety, immunogenicity, and immunologic priming of 2 dosages (2 microgram or 10 microgram) of a meningococcal C oligosaccharide-CRM197 conjugate vaccine was evaluated in 114 infants vaccinated at ages 2, 3, and 4 months. Antibody persistence and response to boosting with 10 microgram of meningococcal C polysaccharide were assessed. The meningococcal conjugate vaccine produced fewer local reactions than concurrent routine immunizations. Total serogroup C-specific immunoglobulin geometric mean concentration (GMC) increased from 0.3 microgram/mL before vaccination to 13.1 microgram/mL at age 5 months. Serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) geometric mean titers (GMTs) rose from <1:4 to 1:1057 at 5 months and fell by 14 months to 1:19. Following boosting, anti-C-specific immunoglobulin GMC rose to 15.9 microgram/mL and SBA GMT to 1:495. Antibody responses in the 10-microgram dose cohort were significantly higher at 5 months (P<.01) than in the 2-microgram dose cohort but were lower after polysaccharide boosting (P=.02). This meningococcal conjugate vaccine was well tolerated and immunogenic and induced immunologic memory in infants.
Richmond
P
P
Immunisation Division, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS), London NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom. prichmon@phls.co.uk
Borrow
R
R
Miller
E
E
Clark
S
S
Sadler
F
F
Fox
A
A
Begg
N
N
Morris
R
R
Cartwright
K
K
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D014611:Vaccination
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines