Persistence of bactericidal antibodies to 5 years of age after immunization with serogroup B meningococcal vaccines at 6, 8, 12 and 40 months of age.
BACKGROUND
A serogroup B meningococcal vaccine (4CMenB) has been licensed by the European commission for use in various infant schedules. However, data are limited on persistence of serum bactericidal antibodies (SBA), which is necessary to inform cost-effectiveness analysis.


METHODS
Sera were obtained from 3 groups of 5-year-old children previously immunized at 6, 8, 12 and 40 months with either 4CMenB or rMenB (which lacks the outer membrane vesicle of 4CMenB) or at 40 and 42 months with 4CMenB only. Forty-nine control children were also recruited and blood obtained before and after 2 doses of 4CMenB at 60 and 62 months of age. Sera were tested for SBA to meningococcal B reference strains.


RESULTS
At 5 years of age, 67% of those receiving 4CMenB in infancy had SBA titers ≥1:4 for strain 44/76, 100% for 5/99, 17% for NZ98/254 and 45% for M10713. Results for rMenB recipients varied from 0 (NZ98/254) to 100% (5/99). Of those immunized with 4CMenB at 40 and 42 months, 38% had SBA titers ≥1:4 at age 5 for 44/76, 100% for 5/99, 0% (NZ98/254) and 83% (M10713). Among controls, SBA titers were ≥1:4 in 4% (H44/76, 5/99), 0% (NZ98/254) and 67% (M10713) at baseline, increasing to 100% (H44/76 and 5/99), 89% (NZ98/254) and 97% (M10713) postimmunization.


CONCLUSIONS
The variable rates of waning of antibody to the 4 components of 4CMenB complicates estimates of duration of protection and should be taken into account in cost-effectiveness analyses. A 2-dose schedule of 4CMenB in 5-year-old children was immunogenic.
From the *Oxford Vaccine Group Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre; †Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; ‡Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics S.r.l. Siena, Italy; and §Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, Inc. Cambridge, MA.
Fiona
F
McQuaid
Matthew D
MD
Snape
Tessa M
TM
John
Sarah
S
Kelly
Hannah
H
Robinson
Jennifer
J
Houlden
Merryn
M
Voysey
Daniela
D
Toneatto
Claudia
C
Kitte
Peter M
PM
Dull
Andrew J
AJ
Pollard
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D038541:Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines