title: Safety and immunogenicity of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine booster in taiwanese toddlers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pneumococcal infection causes high morbidity and mortality in children. Prevention of pneumococcal diseases by effective vaccination is an urgent need. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate (7VPnC) vaccine (serotypes 4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F) booster dose administered at 15-20 months of age in Taiwanese toddlers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-eight healthy Taiwanese toddlers who were primed with three doses of the 7VPnC vaccine in infancy received a booster dose in an open-label, noncomparative trial. Routine oral polio vaccine and diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, and pertussis vaccine were administered concomitantly. Surveillance for safety was conducted after vaccination. Antibody concentration to each of the seven pneumococcal serotypes was measured before and 1 month after the booster dose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mild to moderate local reactions were common (45-50%). Fever, fussiness, restlessness, and loss of appetite were the most frequent systemic reactions (31-50%). Before the booster dose of vaccine, 68% (for serotype 18C) to 100% (for serotype 14) of subjects had antibody concentrations >or= 0.2 microg/mL to different pneumococcal serotypes. After the booster dose, the geometric mean concentration of IgG increased significantly (p < 0.001) for all seven serotypes indicating the induction of immunologic memories. Ninety-eight percent of the toddlers had antibody concentration >or= 0.2 microg/mL against all serotypes after the booster.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 7VPnC vaccine containing the prevalent serotypes in Taiwan is safe and effective in boosting immunity against pneumococcal disease in Taiwanese children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Lan
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Chun-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Luan-Yin
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Fu-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Chin-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Po-Ren
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hsueh
authors.forename: Li-Min
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D006801:Humans; D007117:Immunization, Secondary; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012449:Safety; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000069443:Heptavalent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines