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Published on: August 30, 2014
A modified schedule for routine pertussis immunization
Insights
Two or three doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-polio vaccine provide strong pertussis immunity in infants. Both vaccination schedules resulted in high antibody levels and sustained protection one and two years post-booster.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric immunology
- Vaccinology
- Infectious disease
Background:
- Infant immunization schedules are critical for establishing protective immunity.
- The pertussis component of combined vaccines requires evaluation for optimal immunogenicity.
- Assessing serologic responses to pertussis antigen is key for vaccine efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the serologic response to pertussis antigen in infants receiving two vs. three primary doses of a combined diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-polio vaccine.
- To evaluate the impact of different primary vaccination regimens on antibody persistence and booster response.
Main Methods:
- Infants received either two primary doses (2, 3.5 months) or three primary doses (2, 4, 6 months) of a quadruple inactivated vaccine.
- Pertussis agglutination titers were measured to assess immune response (≥1:10).
- Seroconversion rates and geometric mean titers (GMTs) were analyzed post-primary doses, post-booster, and at 1-2 years after the booster.
Main Results:
- Two primary doses induced an immune response in approximately 92% of infants, comparable to three doses.
- 100% seroconversion was observed in both groups one month after the booster dose.
- Antibodies persisted in 100% of children at 1-2 years post-booster, with higher GMTs in the three-dose group.
Conclusions:
- Two primary doses of the evaluated vaccine are nearly as effective as three doses in inducing an initial pertussis immune response.
- Both vaccination regimens elicit robust and durable antibody levels following a booster dose.
- The findings support flexibility in infant immunization schedules for pertussis protection.
Abstract:
As part of a study with a quadruple inactivated vaccine (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus-polio), the serologic response to the pertussis antigen was investigated in infants at the age of routine immunization, inoculated with one of the following two regimens: either 0.5 ml vaccine at 2 and 3 1/2 months and a booster six months later, or an identical dose of vaccine given at 2, 4 and 6 months and a booster at the age of 12 months. A pertussis agglutination titer of greater than or equal to 1:10 was considered an immune response to the administration of the antigen. Two basic doses of pertussis antigen induced an immune response in about 92% of children, which was very close to that following three basic doses. A 100% seroconversion was observed in both groups one month after the booster dose, and geometric mean values were high in both regimens. At one and two years after the booster, the pertussis agglutinins were present in 100% of children of both groups, with higher geometric mean values in the group given the three basic doses regimen.
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