title: Seroconversion and duration of immunity after vaccination against group C meningococcal infection in young children.
abstract: An increase in the incidence of group C meningococcal disease was observed in the Murcia Region (Spain) during 1996-1997. In September 1997, a massive vaccination campaign was implemented among the population aged 18 months to 19 years. The aim of this study was to assess the seroconversion rate of children aged 18-59 months and the persistence of immune response 1 year after vaccination. A total of 296 children were included. Blood samples were obtained before vaccination and 1 month and 1 year after vaccination. Three point seven percent of the children had bactericidal antibody titres of >/=1:8 before vaccination. One month after vaccination seroconversion was 63.7%, with a growing trend related to age at vaccination (p<0.0001). The increase in antibody titres was shown to be quantitatively greater above the age of 36 months (p<0.0001). One year after vaccination only 4.3% of the children who initially seroconverted still had bactericidal activity. Seroconversion in children under 5 increases with age but antibodies decline rapidly in the year following vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Directorate General of Public Health, 300008 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Espín Ríos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Fulgueíras
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navarro Alonso
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vazquez Moreno
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodriguez Gonzalez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Navarro Sánchez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Flores
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C037676:meningococcal group C polysaccharide