ADVERSE EVENTS AND ANTIBODY-RESPONSE TO ACCELERATED IMMUNIZATION IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANTS

A study was performed to compare adverse events and antibody response in term and preterm children vaccinated with diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine at 2, 3, and 4 months of age. A total of 124 childre n were recruited and grouped according to gestational age: 37 weeks or more (n = 52), 34 to 36 weeks (n = 40), and less than 34 weeks (n = 3 2). Study nurses followed up children 24 hours after each vaccination to record temperature, redness, and swelling at the injection site and any systemic symptoms. Proportions of children experiencing adverse e vents did not differ between groups. Blood samples were obtained six w eeks after the vaccination course at which time all children had prote ctive levels of diphtheria and tetanus antitoxins. Geometric mean anti body titres (95% confidence interval) to pertussis toxin were 2754 (20 42 to 3715), 5495 (4074 to 7413), and 3690 (2951 to 4677), to filament ous haemagglutinin were 541 (282 to 1023), 951 (537 to 1698), and 614 (426 to 1023), and to agglutinogens 2 and 3 were 12106 (6918 to 21380) , 21330 (13183 to 34674), and 22387 (15136 to 33113) in children born at a gestational age of less than 34 weeks, 34 to 36 weeks, and 37 wee ks or more respectively. These findings support the current recommenda tions that preterm children are vaccinated at chronological age accord ing to the national schedule.