Maternal immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the Philippines

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 21; no. 24; pp. 3451 - 3454
• Main Authors: Quiambao, B.P., Nohynek, H., Käyhty, H., Ollgren, J., Gozum, L., Gepanayao, C.P., Soriano, V., Mäkela, P.H.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 28.07.2003; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Antibodies; Antibodies, Bacterial - analysis; Antibodies, Bacterial - biosynthesis; Babies; Bacterial diseases; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Confidence intervals; Data analysis; Disease; Female; Fetal Blood - immunology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health facilities; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immune response; Immunization; Immunization Programs; Immunogenicity; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Infectious diseases; Maternal immunization; Medical sciences; Meningitis; Microbiology; Mortality; Mothers; Philippines; Pneumococcal Vaccines - adverse effects; Pneumococcal Vaccines - immunology; Pneumococcus; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third - immunology; Serotyping; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Streptococcus infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology; Studies; Tropical medicine; Vaccines; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies; Womens health; Philippines; Gambia; Papua New Guinea; Maternal immunization; Antibodies; Pneumococcus; Human; Immunization; Vaccine; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Infection; Pregnancy; Prevention; Streptococcaceae; Immunoprophylaxis; Streptococcal infection; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Female; Pneumococcal infection; Polysaccharide
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(03)00349-9

A randomized, controlled study was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of the 23-valent pneumococcal (Pnc) polysaccharide (PS) vaccine among pregnant women and to ascertain the transfer of anti-Pnc antibody (Ab) from mother to infant. One hundred and sixty women received either one dose of Pnc PS vaccine, Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine and tetanus toxoid (TT) (Pnc vaccine group, N=106) or TT only (control group, N=54). Sera were obtained from all mothers prior to vaccination and 4 weeks after from the vaccinated group. Cord blood was obtained in 75% of deliveries. Anti-Pnc Ab for serotypes 1, 5, 6B, 14, 18C and 19F was determined using enzyme immunoassay. The Pnc vaccine and control groups were comparable in terms of age, parity, gravidity, prior doses of TT, and pre-vaccination geometric mean concentration (GMC in μg/ml) of anti-Pnc Ab. Between 66 and 87% of the mothers had type-specific Ab prior to vaccination. There was a significant rise in anti-Pnc Ab (varying from 3.3- to 9.1-fold for the individual serotypes) between the pre and post-vaccination samples. Adverse reactions were mild and required no treatment. The level of anti-Pnc Ab in cord blood was significantly lower in the control group compared to the Pnc vaccine group. Vaccination of pregnant women with Pnc Ps vaccine induces good immune response and Ab can be transferred to their infants via cord blood thus providing enhanced protection.