Immunization of newborns with bacterial conjugate vaccines.
Bacterial conjugate vaccines are based on the principle of coupling immunogenic bacterial capsular polysaccharides to a carrier protein to facilitate the induction of memory T-cell responses. Following the success of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccines in the 1980s, conjugate vaccines for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis infections were developed and proven to be effective in protecting children against invasive disease. In this review, the use of conjugate vaccines in human newborns is discussed. Neonatal Haemophilus influenzae type b and pneumococcal conjugate vaccination schedules have been trialed and proven to be safe, with the majority of studies demonstrating no evidence for the induction of immune tolerance. Whether their neonatal administration also results in an earlier induction of clinical protection in the first 2-3 critical months of life is still to be demonstrated.
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, University of Western Australia, PO Box 855, West Perth, WA 6872, Australia. Anita.vandenBiggelaar@Crucell.com
Anita H J
AH
van den Biggelaar
William S
WS
Pomat
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D019741:Haemophilus influenzae type b / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D018074:Vaccines, Conjugate