Clinical and immunological risk factors associated with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine failure in childhood

Citation
Pt. Heath et al., Clinical and immunological risk factors associated with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine failure in childhood, CLIN INF D, 31(4), 2000, pp. 973-980
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Immunolgy & Infectious Disease",Immunology
Journal title
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ISSN journal
10584838 → ACNP
Volume
31
Issue
4
Year of publication
2000
Pages
973 - 980
Database
ISI
SICI code
1058-4838(200010)31:4<973:CAIRFA>2.0.ZU;2-L
Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines have proved extremel y efficacious in healthy children. True Hib vaccine failures are rare. Hib conjugate vaccines were introduced for routine immunization in the United K ingdom and the Republic of Ireland in 1992, Coincident with this, active pr ospective and national surveillance via pediatricians, microbiologists, and public health physicians was commenced to assess the clinical and immunolo gical factors associated with vaccine failure. During the 6 years of the st udy, 115 children with true vaccine failure were reported. Of the children who were vaccinated before 12 months of age, a clinical risk factor was det ected in 20%, an immunological deficiency was detected in 30%, and one or b oth were detected in 44%. Children who were vaccinated after 12 months of a ge were more likely to have one or both factors (67%). Thirty percent (33 o f 105) of children with true vaccine failure had a low Hib antibody respons e (concentration, <1.0 <mu>g/mL) after disease, but the majority then respo nded to a further dose of Hib vaccine. Children who develop Hib disease des pite vaccination deserve further clinical and immunological evaluation.