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Background
There are few studies about immunogenicity and safety of
heptavalent pneumococcal-CRM197
conjugate vaccine (PCV7) in low birth weight infants.
Objective
Assessment of immunogenicity following administration of PCV7 in low birth weight children.
Methods
The PCV7 vaccine was administered to 60 infants divided into two groups: 23 children with birth weight <1000聽g (Group I); and 37 children with birth weight 鈮?000聽g (Group II). Serum was collected four times.
Results
Birth weight of children included in the study ranged from 480聽g to 2450聽g. The primary immunization caused an increase in the average concentration of antibodies for all serotypes in most of the participants, with no significant differences between the groups. However, there were some differences between various serotypes. Group serotypes 6B and 23F were the least immunogenic (鈮?.35聽渭g/mL, Group I vs. Group II - 6B: 78.3% vs. 67,6% p聽=聽0.371 and 23F: 87% vs. 83.8% p聽=聽0.738). Prior to the administration of a booster dose, a significant decrease in antibody titer was observed in all children. The last vaccination resulted in an increased concentration of antibodies in all children in both groups, and the results were significantly higher compared to those measured following administration of three doses of the vaccine.
Conclusion
PCV7 is immunogenic in children with low, very low, and extremely low birth weight. Serotypes 6B and 23F were the least immunogenic, and serotype 14 proved to be the most immunogenic.
