title: MenAfriVac as an Antitetanus Vaccine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The group A meningococcal conjugate vaccine, PsA-TT, uses tetanus toxoid (TT) as a carrier protein (PsA-TT). TT as a carrier protein in other conjugate vaccines is known to be immunogenic and generates a robust anti-TT response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical studies in Africa assessed whether PsA-TT generated tetanus serologic responses when tested in African populations (toddlers to adults). Second, the high acceptance of PsA-TT mass immunization campaigns in the 1- to 29-year age group meant that a sizeable fraction of women of reproductive age received PsA-TT. Incidence data for neonatal tetanus were reviewed for countries with and without PsA-TT campaigns to check whether this had any impact on the incidence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PsA-TT generated robust tetanus serologic responses in 1- to 29-year-olds, similar to those expected after a booster dose of TT. Neonatal cases of tetanus fell by 25% in countries that completed PsA-TT campaigns in 1- to 29-year-olds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although these data are not yet definitive, they are consistent with the hypothesis that improved community immunity to tetanus as a result of the PsA-TT campaigns may be having an impact on the incidence of neonatal tetanus in sub-Saharan Africa.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ISRCTN17662153 (PsA-TT 001); ISRTCN78147026 (PsA-TT 002); ISRCTN87739946 (PsA-TT 003); ISRCTN46335400 (PsA-TT 003a); ISRCTN82484612 (PsA-TT 004); CTRI/2009/091/000368 (PsA-TT 005); PACTR ATMR2010030001913177 (PsA-TT 006); and PACTR201110000328305 (PsA-TT 007).
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Evaluation Unit, Public Health England, Manchester Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borrow
authors.affiliation: Meningitis Vaccine Project, PATH, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Yuxiao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals/Expanded Programme on Immunization, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ahmadu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yakubu
authors.affiliation: Serum Institute of India Ltd, Pune.
authors.forename: Prasad S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.affiliation: Serum Institute of India Ltd, Pune.
authors.forename: F Marc
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: LaForce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology*; D013742:Tetanus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C573970:MenAfriVac; D022401:Meningococcal Vaccines; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid
keywords: PsA-TT; conjugate vaccine; group A meningococcal; tetanus