Safety and persistence of the humoral and cellular immune responses induced by 2 doses of an AS03-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic influenza vaccine administered to infants, children and adolescents: Two open, uncontrolled studies.

In children, 2 AS03-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine doses given 21 days apart were previously shown to induce a high humoral immune response and to have an acceptable safety profile up to 42 days following the first vaccination. Here, we analyzed the persistence data from 2 open-label studies, which assessed the safety, and humoral and cell-mediated immune responses induced by 2 doses of this vaccine. The first study was a phase II, randomized trial conducted in 104 children aged 6-35 months vaccinated with the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine containing 1.9 µg haemagglutinin antigen (HA) and AS03B (5.93 mg tocopherol) and the second study, a phase III, non-randomized trial conducted in 210 children and adolescents aged 3-17 years vaccinated with the A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine containing 3.75 µg HA and AS03A (11.86 mg tocopherol). Approximately one year after the first dose, all children with available data were seropositive for haemagglutinin inhibition and neutralising antibody titres, but a decline in geometric mean antibody titres was noted. The vaccine induced a cell-mediated immune response in terms of antigen-specific CD4(+) T-cells, which persisted up to one year post-vaccination. The vaccine did not raise any safety concern, though these trials were not designed to detect rare events. In conclusion, 2 doses of the AS03-adjuvanted A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccine at 2 different dosages had a clinically acceptable safety profile, and induced high and persistent humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in children aged 6-35 months and 3-17 years. These studies have been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov NCT00971321 and NCT00964158.

Efficacy and immunogenicity of live-attenuated human rotavirus vaccine in breast-fed and formula-fed European infants.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is the main cause of severe gastroenteritis and diarrhea in infants and young children less than 5 years of age. Potential impact of breast-feeding on the efficacy and immunogenicity of human rotavirus G1P[8] vaccine was examined in this exploratory analysis. METHODS: Healthy infants (N = 3994) aged 6-14 weeks who received 2 doses of human rotavirus vaccine/placebo according to a 0-1 or 0-2 month schedule were followed for rotavirus gastroenteritis during 2 epidemic seasons. Rotavirus IgA seroconversion rate (anti-IgA antibody concentration ≥ 20 mIU/mL) and geometric mean concentrations were measured prevaccination and 1-2 months post-dose 2. Vaccine efficacy against any and severe rotavirus gastroenteritis was analyzed according to the infants being breast-fed or exclusively formula-fed at the time of vaccination. RESULTS: Antirotavirus IgA seroconversion rate was 85.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 82.4-88.3) in breast-fed and 89.2% (95% CI: 84.2-93) in exclusively formula-fed infants; geometric mean concentrations in the respective groups were 185.8 U/mL (95% CI: 161.4-213.9) and 231.5 U/mL (95% CI: 185.9-288.2). Vaccine efficacy was equally high in breast-fed and exclusively formula-fed children in the first season but fell in breast-fed infants in the second rotavirus season. During the combined 2-year efficacy follow-up period, vaccine efficacy against any rotavirus gastroenteritis was 76.2% (95% CI: 68.7-82.1) and 89.8% (95% CI: 77.6-95.9) and against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis 88.4% (95% CI: 81.6-93) and 98.1% (95% CI: 88.2-100) in the breast-fed and exclusively formula-fed infants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in immunogenicity of human rotavirus vaccine in breast-fed and exclusively formula-fed infants was small. Vaccine efficacy was equally high in breast-fed and exclusively formula-fed children in the first season. Breast-feeding seemed to reduce slightly the efficacy in the second season.

Immunogenicity and safety of AS03-adjuvanted 2009 influenza A H1N1 vaccine in children 6-35 months.

We report on the evaluation of the immunogenicity and reactogenicity/safety of AS03-adjuvanted vaccine against pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 in young children. In this open-label, randomized study, 157 healthy children aged 6-35 months received two doses (21 days apart) of split-virion inactivated A/California/7/2009 H1N1 vaccine containing either (i) 1.9microg hemagglutinin (HA) and AS03(B) (5.93mg tocopherol) (N=104) or (ii) 3.75mug HA and AS03(A) (11.86mg tocopherol) (N=53). At 21 days following the first dose of AS03(B)-adjuvanted vaccine (1.9microg HA) the percentage of children with hemagglutination-inhibition titers of >or=40 against the vaccine strain rose from 3.0% before vaccination to 100%. The seroconversion rate was 99% and the geometric mean titer (GMT) increased from 6 to 313. After the second dose the GMT increased further to 2008. The higher dose AS03(A)-adjuvanted 3.75microg HA vaccine did not further increase the immune response. Solicited symptoms reported within 7 days following vaccination were mainly mild to moderate. After the first dose of AS03(B)-adjuvanted vaccine (1.9microg HA) the most common solicited symptoms were pain at the injection site (35.6%) and irritability (31.7%). Fever (axillary >or=37.5 degrees C) was reported with an incidence of 20.2%. After the second dose reactogenicity tended to increase (injection site pain: 41.3%; irritability: 46.2%; fever >or=37.5 degrees C: 67.3%). Spontaneously reported adverse events with an intensity that prevented normal activities were documented for 2.9-6.7% of doses with only one event (vomiting) considered related to vaccination. There was one serious adverse event reported in the AS03(A)-adjuvanted 3.75microg HA vaccine group (traumatic brain injury) which was not considered as related to vaccination. In conclusion, these data suggest that a first dose of AS03(B)-adjuvanted A/H1N1/2009 vaccine containing 1.9microg HA in children 6-35 months old is highly immunogenic and that the overall reactogenicity profile is acceptable although reactions including fever tend to increase after a second dose.

Immunogenicity and safety of the human rotavirus vaccine Rotarix co-administered with routine infant vaccines following the vaccination schedules in Europe.

This study assessed the immunogenicity and safety of a human rotavirus vaccine RIX4414; the effect of co-administration of childhood vaccines on the immune responses was also assessed. Healthy infants aged 6-14 weeks received two doses of RIX4414/placebo concomitantly with the primary childhood vaccination (Infanrix hexa, Infanrix quinta,Meningitec and/or Prevnar), respecting the vaccination schedule of each country. Anti-rotavirus IgA seroconversion rate (ELISA cut-off 20 U/ml) was measured pre-vaccination and 1-2 months post-Dose 2. Immune response against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, inactivated polio virus, pneumococcal polysaccharide conjugate (France and Germany) and meningococcal group C conjugate vaccines (Spain) were measured approximately 1-month post-Dose 3. An overall anti-rotavirus IgA seroconversion rate of 86.5%(95% CI: 83.9-88.8) was observed in the RIX4414 group 1-month post-Dose 2. The seroconversion rate in Finland and Italy (3 and 5-month schedule) was 94.6%(95% CI: 90.0-97.5) and 92.3%(95% CI: 64.0-99.8), respectively. Immune response to the childhood vaccines was unaffected following co-administration with RIX4414. Reactogenicity profile was similar for RIX4414 and placebo groups. RIX4414 was immunogenic and well tolerated in European infants and the co-administration of routine childhood vaccines with RIX4414 did not negatively impact the immune responses to these vaccines.

Immunogenicity of the 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) when coadministered with different neisseria meningitidis serogroup C conjugate vaccines.

BACKGROUND: Immunogenicity of the candidate 10-valent pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) was assessed when coadministered with other routine pediatric vaccines including different Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C conjugate vaccines. METHODS: One thousand five hundred forty-eight healthy infants received, according to a balanced (1:1:1:1) randomization, either PHiD-CV coadministered with (1) DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (Infanrix hexa) and MenC-CRM (Meningitec), (2) DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and MenC-TT (NeisVac-C), or (3) DTPa-HBV-IPV (Infanrix penta/Pediarix) and Hib-MenC-TT (Menitorix); or 7vCRM (Prevenar/Prevnar) coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV and Hib-MenC-TT at 2-4-6 months of age with a booster dose at 11-18 months. Serotype-specific pneumococcal responses were measured by 22F-inhibition ELISA and opsonophagocytic (OPA) assay. RESULTS: In all 3 coadministration groups, PHiD-CV was immunogenic for each of the 10 pneumococcal vaccine serotypes as assessed by post-primary and post-booster antibody ELISA and OPA responses. When coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV, Hib, and MenC antigens, PHiD-CV responses after the third primary dose were within the same range as 7vCRM responses in terms of the percentage of subjects achieving an ELISA antibody concentration >or=0.2 microg/mL for all common vaccine serotypes (over 92% of subjects) except for serotype 6B (at least 87% of subjects). ELISA and OPA immune responses were also evident after the second primary doses of PHiD-CV or 7vCRM vaccine, although antibody levels were below that achieved after 3 primary doses, particularly for serotypes 6B and 23F. The kinetics of the immune responses from after the second dose to after the booster dose were similar for most of the serotypes in both PHiD-CV and 7vCRM groups. CONCLUSIONS: PHiD-CV was immunogenic when coadministered with other routine pediatric vaccines including MenC conjugate vaccines.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a booster dose of a novel combined Haemophilus influenzae type b-Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine given to toddlers of 13-14 months of age with antibody persistence up to 31 months of age.

BACKGROUND: A combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Hib-MenC-TT) may be a convenient alternative to separate Hib and MenC conjugate vaccines. METHODS: Healthy infants randomized in a previous study for priming at 2, 4, and 6 months: Hib-MenC-TT primed group, 3 doses of Hib-MenC-TT + DTPa-HBV-IPV (N = 87); MenC-TT primed group, 2 doses of MenC-TT (NeisVac-C; Baxter Healthcare SA, Zuürich, Switzerland) + 3 doses of DTPa/Hib containing vaccines (N = 178); MenC-CRM primed group, 3 doses of MenC-CRM197(Meningitec; Wyeth Corporation Delaware, Madison, NJ) + DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (N = 93). At 13-14 months of age, Hib-MenC-TT and MenC-TT primed groups received a Hib-MenC-TT booster dose and the MenC-CRM primed group a booster dose of DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib. Blood samples were taken before and at 1 and 18 months postbooster. RESULTS: Before the booster dose, persistence of anti-polyribosyl ribitol phosphate (PRP) antibody concentration > or =0.15 microg/mL in the Hib-MenC-TT (96.4%) and MenC-TT (96.1%) primed groups and of MenC bactericidal titers > or =1:8 in the Hib-MenC-TT primed group (96.3%) was statistically significantly higher than in the MenC-CRM primed group (86.4% and 85.4%, respectively). One month after the Hib-MenC-TT booster, 99.2% subjects in the Hib-MenC-TT primed + MenC-TT primed pooled groups had anti-PRP levels > or =1 microg/mL, and 99.6% had SBA-MenC titers > or =1:128. The Hib-MenC-TT booster tended to be less reactogenic than the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib control and no serious adverse events related to vaccination were reported. Eighteen months after boosting with Hib-MenC-TT, SBA-MenC titers > or =1:8 persisted in 92.7% subjects and anti-PRP > or =0.15 microg/mL persisted in 99.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Primary immunization with 3 doses of Hib-MenC-TT coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV induced antibodies that persisted up to the second year of life. The Hib-MenC-TT booster administered to primed toddlers induced robust and persistent antibody responses to both the Hib and MenC components and had an acceptable safety profile.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of primary immunization with a novel combined Haemophilus influenzae Type b and Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup C-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine coadministered with a Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular Pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated poliovirus vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months.

BACKGROUND: This phase II study evaluated the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of primary vaccination with a novel Hib-MenC conjugate vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline [GSK] Biologicals) coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV (GSK Biologicals) at 2, 4 and 6 months. METHODS: Healthy infants were randomized to receive Hib-MenC coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV (N = 117) or MenC-CRM (Wyeth) coadministered with DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib (GSK Biologicals; N = 120) at 2, 4 and 6 months. Antibody concentrations were measured before vaccination and after doses 2 and 3. Solicited local and general symptoms, unsolicited symptoms and serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. RESULTS: All subjects in the Hib-MenC group had seroprotective titers of anti-PRP antibodies (>or=0.15 microg/mL) and SBA-MenC titers (>or=1:8) 1 month after the third dose. These responses were noninferior to those seen in the control group, in which a 99.1% seroprotection rate was observed for both Hib and MenC. At that time, anti-PRP and SBA-MenC GMTs were significantly higher in the Hib-MenC group (12.8 microg/mL and 2467.1 microg/mL, respectively) than in the control group (3.8 microg/mL and 1833.7 microg/mL). High seroprotection rates were already observed after the second dose of Hib-MenC; 96.4% and 100% of subjects were seroprotected to Hib and MenC, respectively. Immune responses to coadministered antigens were unimpaired; seroprotection/vaccine response rates >or=96.5% were recorded postdose 3 in the Hib-MenC group. No differences in reactogenicity were seen between the 2 study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of a Hib-MenC conjugate vaccine with DTPa-HBV-IPV is well tolerated and immunogenic, and does not impair the immune response to any of the coadministered antigens.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of primary immunization with a hexavalent diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated polio-Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine coadministered with two doses of a meningococcal C-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the concurrent use of meningococcal C tetanus conjugate (MenC-TT) vaccine (NeisVac-C) with DTaP-based combinations, according to 2 vaccination schedules, one of which included hepatitis B vaccination at birth (Trial DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib-097). METHODS: Healthy infants were randomized to receive either DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib (Infanrix hexa) at 2, 4, and 6 months (N = 115) or HBV at birth followed by DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib at 2 and 6 months and DTaP-IPV/Hib (Infanrix-IPV Hib) at 4 months (N = 115). In both groups 2 doses of MenC-TT conjugate were coadministered at 2 and 4 months, and compared with 3 doses of MenC-CRM197 conjugate (Meningitec) coadministered at 2, 4, and 6 months with DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib (N = 120). Antibody concentrations were measured at 2, 6 and 7 months. Solicited local and general symptoms, unsolicited symptoms, and serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. RESULTS: All MenC-TT recipients had seroprotective concentrations of anti-PRP antibodies (> or = 0.15 microg/mL) 1 month after the third vaccine dose and all had SBA-MenC titers > or = 1:8 after the second dose of MenC-TT. These responses were noninferior to those seen after 3 doses of DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib and MenC-CRM. Anti-PRP antibody GMCs were significantly higher in MenC-TT than MenC-CRM vaccinees (7.9, 7.3, 3.8 microg/mL, respectively). Immune responses to all other coadministered antigens were unimpaired, with seroprotection/seropositivity rates > or = 98.1% in MenC-TT vaccinees. All schedules studied were well tolerated, with no differences in reactogenicity between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Coadministration of DTaP-HBV-IPV/Hib or DTaP-IPV/Hib with 2 doses of MenC-TT conjugate vaccine is safe, well tolerated, and immunogenic, with no impairment of the response to the coadministered antigens.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a three-dose primary vaccination course with a combined diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B-inactivated polio-haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine coadministered with a meningococcal C conjugate vaccine.

AIM: To evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of 3 doses of the combined diphtheria-tetanus toxoids-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B virus-inactivated poliovirus/Haemophilus influenzae type b (DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib) vaccine (Infanrix hexa) when coadministered with a CRM197-conjugated meningococcal C vaccine (Meningitec) at different injection sites during the same visit or during separate visits. METHODS: Healthy infants were randomized in an open randomized multicenter study to receive either the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib and meningococcal C conjugate vaccines during the same vaccination visit at 2, 4 and 6 months of age (coadministration group) or the DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine at 2, 4 and 6 months of age and the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine at 3, 5 and 7 months of age (separate administration group). RESULTS: The immunogenicity analysis included 452 infants, 228 in the coadministration group and 224 in the separate administration group. One month after primary vaccination, 99.1% of subjects in both groups achieved anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate antibody concentrations >/=0.15 microg/mL. The vaccine response against pertussis antigens was at least 99.1% in both groups. For all other DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine antigens, at least 97.8% of all subjects of both groups were seroprotected. In addition, 99.5% of all subjects had meningococcal C bactericidal antibody titers >/=1/8 and 99.1% >/=1/128. Coadministration of both vaccines did not result in an increased local or general reactogenicity compared with separate administration. CONCLUSION: Coadministration of the combined DTPa-HBV-IPV/Hib vaccine and the meningococcal C conjugate vaccine during the same vaccination visit was immunogenic and safe.