Investigation of serum bactericidal activity in childhood and adolescence 3-6 years after vaccination with a single dose of serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine

Vaccine. 2009 Jul 16;27(33):4408-11. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.047. Epub 2009 Jun 3.

Abstract

Serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccines were introduced in Greece in 2001, and although no cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease were recorded in 2004, a steady increase was observed since 2005. In this study, serum bactericidal activity was assessed in sera of 269 vaccinated children at a mean time of about 5 years after vaccination. Non-protective antibody titers were observed in most children vaccinated at age <6 years (85.9%), followed by those between 6 and 10 years (62.2%). This percentage was considerably lower in adolescents vaccinated at an age >10 years (37.8%) (p<0.01). Geometric mean concentrations of serum IgG antibodies against serogroup C showed a similar variation. The results indicate that serum bactericidal antibody titers significantly correlate with age of vaccination; most children do not have protective antibody titers few years after immunization in infancy and childhood whereas most adolescents maintain sustained protection.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age Factors
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Blood Bactericidal Activity
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Greece
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / immunology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / prevention & control*
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Meningococcal Vaccines / immunology*
  • Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup C / immunology
  • Time Factors
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines, Conjugate / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Meningococcal Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Conjugate
  • serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccine