Effect of season of inoculation on immune response to rubella vaccine in children.
The yearly seasons are marked by changes in the amount of sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is known to adversely affect the course of viral infections, immunologic memory and cellular and humoral immune responses. Our objectives were to investigate potential differences in the immune response of the rubella vaccine after 3-4 years by season of inoculation. Children aged 4-5 years attending four kindergartens in villages in northern Israel, all of whom had been vaccinated at 1 year of age, were enrolled in the study. Participants were divided into three groups by season of the year in which the inoculation was performed: summer (N = 63), winter (N = 36) and intermediate (N = 104). Main outcome measures were mean geometrical titer of rubella antibodies and complete, partial or no immunity to rubella by season of inoculation. Of the 203 children tested, 186 (91.6%) had adequate antibody levels, 7 (3.4%) had equivocal levels and 10 (4.9%) had inadequate levels. Significantly higher mean geometrical titers were found in the winter-inoculated compared with the summer-inoculated group (73.0 ± 2.6 vs 47.6 ± 2.8; p < 0.05). The same tendency was noted in the percent of infants properly immunized. This preliminary study shows a strong correlation between the immune response to rubella vaccine and the season of vaccination. Immunogenicity may be improved by inoculating children during seasons of less sunlight or by reducing the children's exposure to sunlight following inoculation. This practice is especially important in areas with extreme seasonal variability in solar radiation and tropical areas. Further studies are needed to corroborate and expand these findings.
Linder
Nehama
N
Department of Neonatology, Rabin Medical Center, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel. linderm@netvision.net.il
Abudi
Yair
Y
Abdalla
Wafa
W
Badir
Mursi
M
Amitai
Yona
Y
Samuels
Justin
J
Mendelson
Ella
E
Levy
Itzhak
I
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology*; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; C040901:rubella antibodies