Combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C (HibMenC) or serogroup C and Y-tetanus toxoid conjugate (and HibMenCY) vaccines are well-tolerated and immunogenic when administered according to the 2,3,4 months schedule with a fourth dose at 12-18 months of age.

Combined HibMenCY and HibMenC conjugate vaccines may facilitate inclusion of vaccination against MenC and MenY into routine vaccination schedules, without additional injections. Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of vaccination with three different formulations of a novel HibMenCY-conjugate vaccine, or a HibMenC-conjugate vaccine was assessed. Infants were randomized to receive either Hib(2.5 µg)-MenC(5 µg)-MenY(5 µg)-TT, Hib(5 µg)-MenC(10 µg)-MenY(10 µg)-TT, Hib(5 µg)-MenC(5 µg)-MenY(5 µg)-TT or Hib(5 µg)-MenC(5 µg)-TT vaccines co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV at 2-3-4 months of age. Controls received licensed conjugate MenC-CRM197 vaccine co-administered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib. A fourth dose was administered to a subset of children at age 12-18 months. Anti-PRP concentrations and meningococcal bactericidal (rSBA-MenC/Y) titres were measured prior to and one month post third and fourth vaccination dose. Solicited local, general symptoms and unsolicited adverse events were recorded for 7 and 30 days after each vaccination, respectively. Post dose 3, all subjects had anti-PRP antibody levels ≥ 0.15 µg/ml and rSBA-MenC ≥ 1:8. 97.0%-98.6% of HibMenCY recipients had rSBA-MenY ≥ 1:8. Pre-dose-4, 95.6%-100% of HibMenCY and HibMenC recipients had anti-PRP ≥ 0.15 µg/ml and 90.7%-97.6% recipients had rSBA-MenC titres ≥ 1:8. In HibMenCY groups, 78.6%-86.7% had persisting rSBA-MenY ≥ 1:8. The post-dose-4 response was robust after all vaccines with all subjects having anti-PRP ≥ 1 µg/ml and 92.3%-100% rSBA-MenC ≥ 1:128. All HibMenCY recipients had rSBA-MenY ≥ 1:128. Vaccination with the novel Hib-meningococcal vaccines had a safety profile similar to control. HibMenCY and HibMenC conjugate vaccine formulations given at 2-3-4 months of age with a fourth dose in the second year of life were immunogenic and had a comparable safety profile to licensed vaccines. (study 792014 and 100381;www.clinicaltrial.govID:NCT00129116)

Safety and reactogenicity profile of an adjuvanted H5N1 pandemic candidate vaccine in adults within a phase III safety trial.

A multicentre, randomized, phase III clinical trial in 5071 healthy adults was conducted to evaluate the safety and reactogenicity of a 15 microg HA dose of a candidate oil-in-water emulsion-based adjuvant system (AS)-adjuvanted split-virion H5N1 (AS-H5N1) vaccine compared to a licensed seasonal influenza vaccine, Fluarix.(1) Stringent criteria were used to evaluate adverse events and reactogenicity profile. Overall, 96.7% of the 5071 vaccinated subjects completed the study. Significantly more participants in the AS-H5N1 vaccine group reported general or local adverse events. Pain was the most common symptom in both treatment groups. Less than 1% of subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events and no withdrawals were due to serious adverse events related to vaccination. The safety and reactogenicity profile of the AS-H5N1 candidate vaccine can be considered clinically acceptable in the context of its use against pandemic influenza.

A vaccine manufacturer's approach to address medical needs related to seasonal and pandemic influenza viruses.

Vaccination is considered to be one of the most effective tools to decrease morbidity as well as mortality caused by influenza viruses. For the prevention of seasonal influenza, Fluarix and FluLaval have been marketed since 1987 and 1992, respectively. Both vaccines have consistently been shown to meet or exceed the regulatory criteria for immunogenicity against the three strains H1N1, H3N2 and B, have a good safety profile, and are recommended for vaccinating children and adults of all ages. For the prevention of pandemic influenza, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has obtained licensure of a pre-pandemic vaccine, Prepandrix. This split-virus H5N1 adjuvanted with AS03, a proprietary oil-in-water emulsion-based adjuvant system, has demonstrated broad immunity against drifted H5N1 strains and has been shown to be effective in preventing mortality and viral shedding in animal studies. The influenza vaccine portfolio of GSK addresses specific medical needs related to seasonal or pandemic influenza viruses, which remain an important public health threat worldwide.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a trivalent influenza split vaccine in previously unvaccinated children aged 6-9 and 10-13 years.

Children previously unvaccinated against influenza are recommended to receive two doses of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). This study assessed the age limit for a second dose of TIV in previously unvaccinated children. Two hundred and twenty-four children were immunized with TIV (Influsplit SSW/Fluarix; GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals). Subjects aged 6-9 years (n=110) received two doses of TIV 4 weeks apart; those aged 10-13 years (n=114) received a single dose. Serum haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) antibody titers were evaluated before and after each vaccination. CHMP criteria for HI antibody response were met for all three vaccine strains after one vaccine dose in children 10-13 years and after two doses in children 6-9 years. A marked benefit was observed in 8-year-old children after a second dose even though one dose would be sufficient against all strains. Our results provide additional evidence that Influsplit SSW/Fluarix is well tolerated and highly immunogenic in children and support recommendations that previously unvaccinated children aged <9 years should receive two doses of influenza vaccine.

Booster vaccination and 1-year follow-up of 4-8-year-old children with a reduced-antigen-content dTpa-IPV vaccine.

Reduced-antigen-content pertussis vaccines designed initially for booster vaccination of adolescents and adults can also be used to vaccinate pre-school age children. Combination vaccines, which reduce the number of administered injections, combine multiple antigens including inactivated poliovirus (IPV), which is recommended in this age group in some countries. This randomised, controlled study compared a combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-inactivated polio-containing booster vaccine, dTpa-IPV (Boostrix Polio, n=822), to separately administered dTpa (Boostrix) and IPV (IPV Mérieux, n=136) in 4-8-year-old children who had previously received four doses of DTPa. Additional serological assessment was performed 1 year after the booster dose. One month after vaccination, seroprotection/vaccine response rates were similar for both groups. At least 99.9% of the subjects had protective antibodies against diphtheria, tetanus and polio, and at least 90.1% had a vaccine response to pertussis antigens after dTpa-IPV. Reactogenicity of dTpa-IPV was comparable to dTpa + IPV. Fever and grade 3 loss of appetite occurred more commonly after dTpa-IPV, whereas swelling and grade 3 pain occurred more frequently after separately administered dTpa + IPV (P<0.05 for all). However, 95% CIs overlapped in all cases. Large swelling reactions after dTpa-IPV occurred less commonly than have been reported after a fifth dose of DTPa. One year after the booster, 98.6% of the subjects tested continued to have protective antibodies against diphtheria, tetanus and polio, and at least 81.2% were seropositive for pertussis components. The reduced-antigen-content dTpa-IPV vaccine was immunogenic, well tolerated and safe in pre-school age children. It provides immunity against four diseases in a single injection, with the potential reactogenicity benefit of a reduced-antigen dose.

Persistence of antibodies in children primed with two different hexavalent diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccines and evaluation of booster vaccination.

This study assessed the persistence of antibodies following primary vaccination with two commercially available, hexavalent diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliovirus and Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines (Infanrix hexa and Hexavac). The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of booster vaccination with Infanrix hexa were also evaluated. A total of 329 children primed at 2, 4, and 6 months with Infanrix hexa (n=166) or Hexavac (n=163) received booster vaccination with Infanrix hexa at 12-19 months of age. Antibody concentrations were measured immediately before and 1 month after booster vaccination. Prebooster persistence of antibodies to HBs, PRP and poliovirus types was significantly higher in children primed with Infanrix hexa than with Hexavac, both in terms of seroprotection rate and GMCs/GMTs (p < 0.05). Boosting with Infanrix hexa elicited strong immune responses to all antigens irrespective of the primary vaccine used, with post-booster seroprotection rates comparable between the two primary vaccine groups (ranging from 98.1 to 100%). The incidence of clinically relevant solicited symptoms did not differ significantly between primary vaccine groups, even if the incidence of local symptoms appeared to be more frequent in subjects primed with Infanrix hexa than in those primed with Hexavac. In summary, booster vaccination with Infanrix hexa during the second year of life is immunogenic and well tolerated, offering protection irrespective of the primary combination vaccine used.

Combined reduced-antigen-content diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis and polio vaccine (dTpa-IPV) for booster vaccination of adults.

Many countries recommend diphtheria, tetanus and/or poliomyelitis boosters in adolescents or adults and the need for pertussis booster vaccination beyond childhood is increasingly recognized. A new combined reduced-antigen-content dTpa-IPV vaccine provides booster vaccination against all four diseases in one single injection. The immunogenicity and safety of the dTpa-IPV vaccine was compared to that of licensed dTpa+IPV or Td-IPV vaccines in 806 adolescents >14 years of age and adults with a heterogeneous vaccination history. The dTpa-IPV vaccine was immunogenic and well tolerated. No clinically significant differences were observed between groups. Anti-tetanus antibody kinetics indicated that each of the vaccines could be used for tetanus prophylaxis in acute wound management. For all vaccines, the lowest post-vaccination antibody concentrations were observed in subjects >40 years of age, those seronegative prior to vaccination and those subjects whose last vaccination was > or =20 years ago. In conclusion, dTpa-IPV vaccination of subjects over 14 years of age was as immunogenic and well tolerated as the licensed dTpa+IPV or Td-IPV vaccines. Vaccination coverage of adults is poor and the use of combined vaccines such as dTpa-IPV during vaccination visits, or for wound management, maximizes opportunities for boosting in these difficult to reach age groups.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of four doses of diphtheria-tetanus-three-component acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated polio virus-Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine coadministered with 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate Vaccine.

BACKGROUND: The 7-valent pneumococcal (7vPn) conjugate vaccine is licensed for primary and booster vaccination according to the same immunization schedules as routinely recommended diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-based childhood vaccines and can be coadministered during the same vaccination visit. METHODS: An open, randomized study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a hexavalent diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated polio virus-Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib) vaccine and a 7vPn conjugate vaccine when coadministered at 2, 3 and 4 months and 12-23 months of age, compared with the administration of the hexavalent DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine given alone. Serum antibody titers were measured before and 1 month after the primary course and before and 1 month after the booster dose. Solicited local and general adverse events were recorded for 4 days and unsolicited adverse events were recorded for 30 days after each vaccine dose. RESULTS: A total of 345 subjects were enrolled for primary vaccination with the hexavalent vaccine (170 without and 175 with the 7vPn vaccine coadministered) and 266 returned for booster vaccination (122 without and 144 with coadministration of the 7vPn vaccine). After primary vaccination, antibody responses against the common antigens were similar in both groups, with seroprotection rates of 93.6-100% and with similar antibody decay before booster vaccination. The fourth dose induced a vigorous booster response, with seroprotection/vaccine response rates of 96.8-100%. Response to the 7vPn primary and booster vaccination was within previously reported ranges. Differences in reactogenicity resulted from higher incidences of symptoms after concomitant vaccination. Rectal temperature >39.5 degrees C was observed after 1.2% of the coadministered vaccine doses during primary vaccination and after 2.8% of the booster vaccine doses. CONCLUSION: Coadministration of the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and 7vPn vaccines at separate injection sites during the same vaccination visit was effective and safe.

C4A deficiency and nonresponse to hepatitis B vaccination.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatitis B vaccination failure has been linked to the presence of certain human leukocyte antigen class II alleles. However, the functional background of these associations has remained unclear. Complement component C 4 is encoded within the major histocompatibility complex and is essential for classical pathway activation. METHODS: Healthy individuals (n=4269) were vaccinated in a prospective trial with Engerix B. Nonresponse was classified as anti-HBs<10 U/l after the last vaccination. Seventy-three nonresponders (NR) (1.7%) were identified. For comparison 53 responders (R) (anti-HBs>10 IU/l) were drawn randomly from the same cohort. C4 allotyping was carried out by high-voltage agarose gel electrophoresis and C4alpha-chain typing using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. C4 gene deletions (C4Del) were studied by Southern blot. RESULTS: C4AQ0 alleles were observed in 45/73 (62%) NR compared to 17/53 (32%) R (P=0.001). C4ADel was observed in 24/73 (33%) NR and in 6/52 (12%) R (P=0.006). C4AQO alleles were present in 21/49 (43%) NR without C4Del compared to 10/46 (22%) in R without C4Del (P=0.031). In a logistic regression with DRB1*0301, DRB1*07, DRB1*1301 and C4AQ0 all except for DRB1*0301 showed a significant association. CONCLUSIONS: C4AQ0 shows a DRB1*0301 independent association with vaccine failure. C4AQ0 alleles probably contribute to inefficient complement activation and failure of B cells to secrete anti-HBs.

Safety and reactogenicity of a novel DTPa-HBV-IPV combined vaccine given along with commercial Hib vaccines in comparison with separate concomitant administration of DTPa, Hib, and OPV vaccines in infants.

OBJECTIVE: Combination vaccines simplify vaccine administration and have the potential to promote compliance and cost-effectiveness by decreasing the number of injections needed to immunize a child. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and reactogenicity of the diphtheria-tetanus toxoid-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B virus-inactivated polio virus (DTPa-HBV-IPV) vaccine when coadministered with different Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccines in comparison with separate, commercially available, control vaccines in a 3-dose primary vaccination series. METHODS: An open-label, randomized, parallel-group study in 5318 infants who were 8 to 16 weeks of age at enrollment was conducted in 90 centers in Germany. The incidence of adverse events that occurred in infants who received the DTPa-HBV-IPV candidate vaccine coadministered with 1 of 4 different Hib vaccines (given in separate sites; groups 1-4) was compared with the incidence that occurred in infants who received commercially available control vaccines (DTPa, Hib, and oral polio virus [OPV] vaccine; group 5) administered separately. The vaccines were given as a 3-dose primary series at 3, 4, and 5 months of age. Infants were assessed for solicited local and general adverse events for 4 days and for unsolicited adverse events for 30 days after each vaccine dose. The primary endpoint was to rule out a 7.5% increase in infants who experienced grade 3 (defined as preventing normal everyday activities unless otherwise specified) solicited local and general adverse events over the 3-dose primary course after the combined DTPa-HBV-IPV vaccine coadministered with Hib as compared with commercially available vaccines. RESULTS: During the 3-dose primary course, 490 of 3029 infants (16.2%) in the pooled DTPa-HBV-IPV vaccine groups and 151 of 744 (20.3%) in the control vaccine group experienced a grade 3 adverse event (rate difference [control minus combination] 4.1%; 90% confidence interval, 1.41-7.13). The lower limit of the 90% confidence interval of the observed difference remained above the prespecified -7.5% limit for noninferiority, thereby meeting the primary endpoint. The incidences of local injection-site reactions were similar for the DTPa-HBV-IPV and DTPa injection sites. Significant differences in the incidence of both local and general adverse events were observed depending on which of the Hib vaccines was coadministered. Infants who received Hib N meningitidis outer-membrane complex protein conjugate vaccine had greater incidences of fever and, to a lesser extent, greater reactions at the Hib injection site than did infants who received other Hib vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: The combination DTPa-HBV-IPV vaccine administered concomitantly with Hib vaccine at separate sites was at least as safe as coadministration of individual DTPa, Hib, and OPV vaccines in terms of the defined endpoints for safety.