Immunogenicity of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine in children with sickle cell disease
L. G. Rubin, D. Voulalas and L. Carmody
Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY 11042.
OBJECTIVE--To determine the safety and immunogenicity of Haemophilus
influenzae type b conjugate vaccine in children with sickle cell disease.
RESEARCH DESIGN--Prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded study.
SETTING--Hospital-based, comprehensive sickle cell center.
PATIENTS--Children with sickle cell disease aged 18 months to 18 years who
were previously unvaccinated or had an inadequate or waning response to H
influenzae type b polysaccharide vaccine. SELECTION PROCEDURES--Consecutive
eligible patients. INTERVENTIONS--Vaccination and observation for adverse
effects. Blood samples were taken before and 1 to 2 and 6 months after
vaccination to measure anticapsular antibody levels. MEASUREMENTS AND
RESULTS--Vaccination was well tolerated. One hundred percent and 96% of the
31 immunized children had postvaccination anticapsular antibody
concentrations of greater than 0.15 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively. Six months
after vaccination, 100% and 89% of children had these antibody
concentrations. CONCLUSIONS--H influenzae type b conjugate vaccines are
safe and highly immunogenic in children with sickle cell disease. It is
likely that these vaccines will be protective against invasive H influenzae
type b disease.
