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.
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>
C L
CL
Trotter
J
J
McVernon
N J
NJ
Andrews
M
M
Burrage
M E
ME
Ramsay
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