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Transient suppression of atopy in early childhood is associated with high vaccination coverage
Christoph Grüber1, Sabina Illi, Susanne Lau
1Department of Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Charité-Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. christoph.grueber@charite.de
Insights
Higher vaccination coverage in children was associated with a reduced prevalence of atopic diseases and allergic sensitization in early life. This suggests a potential protective effect of vaccines against the development of atopy during the first few years of childhood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Vaccinology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Atopic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma, are common in childhood.
- Vaccination is a cornerstone of public health, with widespread administration in infancy and early childhood.
- The relationship between vaccination schedules and the development of atopic conditions requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vaccination coverage and the prevalence of allergic sensitization and atopic diseases in a cohort of German children.
- To determine if higher cumulative vaccine doses correlate with lower rates of atopy development from birth to five years of age.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort study of 1314 neonates in Germany, with 943 children followed up to age 5.
- Assessment of atopic symptoms, diagnoses, total serum IgE, and specific IgE against common allergens.
- Children categorized into vaccine dose percentiles (<10%, 10%-50%, 51%-90%, >90%) based on cumulative vaccine administration up to age 5.
Main Results:
- Inverse relationship observed between cumulative vaccine dose and atopic dermatitis prevalence at multiple time points (6 months, 2, 3, and 5 years).
- Asthma prevalence also showed a similar inverse pattern with increasing vaccine doses at ages 3, 4, and 5.
- Allergic sensitization rates at age 2 were inversely related to the cumulative vaccine dose, with higher doses correlating with lower sensitization rates.
Conclusions:
- Higher vaccination coverage in children appears to offer transient protection against the development of atopy during the initial years of life.
- The findings suggest a potential immunomodulatory role of vaccines in the early prevention of allergic diseases.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this observed association.
Objective:
To analyze prevalences of allergic sensitization and atopic disease in relation to vaccination coverage.
Methods:
A German atopy risk-enhanced birth cohort of 1314 neonates who were born in 1990 in 5 German cities was studied. A total of 943 children participated in the follow-up visit at 5 years of age. Atopic symptoms and diagnoses (derived from structured interviews), total serum immunoglobulin E, and specific immunoglobulin E against 9 common allergens (CAP Radio-Allergo-Sorbent Test Fluoro-Enzyme Immunoassay) were evaluated. Children were grouped into dose percentiles according to cumulative doses of any vaccine given up to 5 years of age (<10%, 0-11 doses; 10%-50%, 12-14 doses; 51%-90%, 15-20 doses; >90%, 21-27 doses).
Results:
The cumulative vaccine dose was inversely related to atopic dermatitis prevalences at 6 months (13.8%, 5.2%, 5.1%, and 4.5%), 2 years (16.9%, 10.9%, 7.4%, and 3.7%), 3 years (27.6%, 16.4%, 13.5%, and 4.5%), and 5 years (28.3%, 16.0%, 9.3%, and 11.9%). Asthma followed a similar pattern at age 3 (22.4%, 8.6%, 6.7%, and 6.3%), age 4 (20.0%, 8.6%, 8.9%, and 8.1%), and age 5 (20.8%, 12.6%, 10.3%, and 5.5%). Allergic sensitization rates were inversely related to the cumulative vaccine dose at age 2 (37.5%, 29.1%, 23.8%, and 12.9%).
Conclusion:
Children with a higher vaccination coverage seemed to be transiently better protected against development of atopy in the first years of life.