Pa. Twumasi et al., A TRIAL OF A GROUP-A PLUS GROUP-C MENINGOCOCCAL POLYSACCHARIDE-PROTEIN CONJUGATE VACCINE IN AFRICAN INFANTS, The Journal of infectious diseases, 171(3), 1995, pp. 632-638
The safety and immunogenicity of a group A plus group C meningococcal
polysaccharide-CRM(197) conjugate vaccine was evaluated in 304 8- to 1
0-week-old Gambian infants. Infants were immunized with one, two, or t
hree doses of conjugate vaccine or with two doses of a meningococcal A
plus C polysaccharide vaccine. The conjugate vaccine produced few sys
temic side effects, and local reactions were similar to those produced
by the polysaccharide vaccine. Postvaccination group A meningococcal
polysaccharide antibody levels, measured by ELISA, increased progressi
vely after one, two, or three doses of conjugate vaccine. However, one
dose of conjugate vaccine given at the age of 6 months induced a high
er group C meningococcal antibody response than did two doses of conju
gate vaccine given at 2 and 6 months. Two doses of conjugate vaccine i
nduced higher levels of antibody than did two doses of polysaccharide
vaccine. Thus, this new meningococcal conjugate vaccine proved to be s
afe and immunogenic.