title: Evaluation of a diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine given concurrently with meningococcal group C conjugate vaccine at 2, 3 and 4 months of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In view of the possible introduction of diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated poliovirus-Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib, eg Pediacel) vaccine in the UK, a study of the immunogenicity of Pediacel when given with one of two different meningococcal group C conjugate (MCC) vaccines at 2, 3 and 4 months of age was conducted.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled study in 241 infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post vaccination, the proportion of infants with anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) levels > or =0.15 microg/ml was 93.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 86.6 to 96.7) in the Pediacel group compared with 100% (95% CI 96.4 to 100) in the diphtheria-tetanus-whole-cell pertussis-Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTwP-Hib) group. The anti-PRP response was lower in infants receiving either Pediacel or DTwP-Hib when these vaccines were given concomitantly with meningococcal group C conjugate with diphtheria-derived protein CRM(197) as conjugate protein (MCC-CRM) compared with meningococcal group C conjugate with tetanus toxoid as conjugate protein (MCC-TT). For group C meningococcus, the proportion of infants with serum bactericidal antibody (SBA) titre > or =1:8 in the Pediacel group was 99.0% compared with 100% in the DTwP-Hib group. The MCC SBA geometric mean titre (GMT) was lower in those receiving Pediacel with MCC-TT than in those receiving DTwP-Hib with MCC-TT, although all titres were well above the protective threshold. The MCC SBA GMT was similar in those receiving Pediacel and DTwP-Hib and MCC-CRM. Responses to all other vaccine components were equivalent in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pediacel is immunogenic when given at 2, 3 and 4 months of age. Coadministration of MCC vaccine can influence the Hib response, and the MCC response to a tetanus conjugate can be influenced by the nature of the coadministered DTP-Hib vaccine.
authors: Sanofi Pasteur MSD, Maidenhead, Berkshire, UK. nkitchin@spmsd.com
authors: N R E
authors: NR
authors: Kitchin
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Southern
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Morris
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Hemme
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Thomas
authors: M W
authors: MW
authors: Watson
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Cartwright
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Miller