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Combination of attenuated measles vaccine (Schwarz) with meningococcus A and A + C vaccine
Insights
A combined meningococcus-measles vaccine shows promise for children, with high seroconversion rates for meningococcal A and C. However, the combination may slightly reduce measles vaccine effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Immunology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Meningococcal and measles diseases pose significant threats to children under five in developing nations.
- Combined vaccines offer a potential strategy to simplify immunization schedules and improve coverage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a combined meningococcus-measles vaccine in young children.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 110 children aged 8 months to 4 years in the Paris area.
- Serologic titrations using hemagglutination assay (IHA) for measles and radioimmunological assay (RIA) for meningococcus A and C.
- Assessment of immune response before and after immunization in 93 children.
Main Results:
- The combined vaccine did not impede the increase in meningococcal A and C antibody titers.
- 100% seroconversion for meningococcal A and C (≤2 µg/mL); 88% for A and 79% for C showed titers ≥4 µg/mL.
- A potential decrease in measles vaccine activity was observed when combined with meningococcus A or A+C.
- Seroconversion rates for measles were >80% with meningococcus A and 69% with meningococcus A+C.
Conclusions:
- The combined meningococcus-measles vaccine is safe and elicits a strong immune response against meningococcal serogroups A and C.
- While effective against meningococcus, the combination may slightly reduce the immunogenicity of the measles component.
- Further research is warranted to optimize combined vaccine formulations for maximal efficacy against both diseases.
Abstract:
There is an obvious interest in a combined meningococcus-measles vaccine since the two diseases are widespread and serious in Third World countries among children under five years of age. The purpose of our study was to show the safety and effectiveness of such a combined preparation. The study covered 110 children between 8 months and 4 years of age who were followed systematically in a maternal child health center in the Paris area. Only 93 of them were checked before and after the immunization. The serologic titrations by the hemagglutination assay (IHA) for measles, and by radioimmunological assay (RIA) for meningococcus A and C showed that the Schwarz strain measles vaccine combined with meningococcus A or the association A+C does not interfere with the increase of A or C titers. 100% of the children showed a seroconversion equal to or less than 2 micrograms per ml, in the case of meningococcus A, as well as for C, regardless of age. Furthermore, 88% of the subjects showed a titer greater than or equal to 4 micrograms for the meningococcus A and 79% for C. On the other hand, meningococcus A or the association A+C seem to depress measles vaccine activity. Nevertheless, more than 80% of the children tested showed seroconversion when the measles vaccine was combined with meningococcus A, and only 69% when combined with meningococcus A and C.