SERUM ANTIBODIES TO THE COMPONENTS OF DIPHTHERIA-TETANUS-PERTUSSIS VACCINE IN POLISH CHILDREN RELATED TO VACCINATION STATUS

In Poland vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) is recommended from 2-3 months of age. Three doses at approximately 6- week intervals are given. A booster dose of DTP is given at 19-24 mont hs and boosters of DT at 6 and 14 years. In this study serum samples w ere obtained from 166 Polish children aged 2 weeks to 14 years. Vaccin ation status was verified from the children's Health Books. Antibodies were determined against pertussis toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin (F HA), pertactin, tetanus toroid and diphtheria toxin. Antibodies of mat ernal origin against all five antigens were detected in almost all ser a from infants not yet vaccinated. Antibody levels increased with the number of vaccinations given. Children who had recently received the f ourth vaccination had the highest antibody levels. Antibody levels dec reased with time after the fourth vaccination for all antibodies excep t FHA. It was concluded that the Polish whole cell pertussis vaccine s timulates antibodies against pertussis toxin, FHA and pertactin, but t hat antibodies against FHA probably also are stimulated by cross-react ing antigens. Diphtheria toxin and tetanus toroid antibodies were abov e protective levels in all vaccinated children, but the long-term decr eases justify the booster dose at 14 years, Twenty-five of 166 childre n (15%) had a vaccination status which deviated from recommendations d emonstrating a need to increase the vaccination rate.