• 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.
(AJDC. 1992;146:340-342)
