Antibody to Haemophilus influenzae type b after routine and catch-up vaccination.
Since 1999, the number of cases of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease in the UK has risen. We investigated the role of population immunity in this change by testing more than 2600 serum samples from children aged 1-15 years. After the introduction of the routine Hib conjugate vaccination programme for infants, median antibody titres rose significantly in 1-year-olds. Individuals who received their first dose of vaccine at age 1-4 years in the original catch-up campaign initially had much higher concentrations of antibody than those who had been immunised in infancy. A second catch-up campaign in children aged 6 months to 4 years should be highly effective in boosting immunity and reducing disease in the short term.
Trotter
C L
CL
Immunisation Division, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Health Protection Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, NW9 5EQ, London, UK. caroline.trotter@hpa.org.uk <caroline.trotter@hpa.org.uk>
McVernon
J
J
Andrews
N J
NJ
Burrage
M
M
Ramsay
M E
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018073:Haemophilus Vaccines