Five-Year Antibody Persistence And Safety After A Single Dose Of Combined Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Neisseria Meningitidis Serogroup C-Tetanus Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine In Haemophilus Influenzae Type B-Primed Toddlers

Background: Antibody persistence is evaluated in healthy Australian children 4 and 5 years postvaccination with a single dose of combined Haemophilus influenzae type b-Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Hib-MenC-TT) compared with separately administered Hib-TT and MenC-CRM197 vaccines (Hib + MCC).Methods: This is another follow-up of a phase III, open, randomized, controlled study (NCT00326118), in which 433 Hib-primed but MenC naive toddlers aged 12-18 months were randomized 3:1 to receive Hib-MenC-TT or Hib + MCC vaccines. Protection against (1) MenC was measured by serum bactericidal antibody assay using rabbit complement (rSBA) and (2) Hib was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of antibodies to polyribosylribitol phosphate (anti-PRP). Study children were assessed for any potentially vaccine-related serious adverse events at each persistence study visit.Results: The according-to-protocol cohorts for persistence at years 4 and 5 included 282 and 263 children, respectively. The percentages of children with rSBA-MenC titers >= 1:8 at years 4 and 5 were 12.5% and 19.0%, respectively, in the Hib-MenC group; and 12.3% and 25.0% in the Hib + MCC group. All children in each group had anti-PRP concentrations >= 0.15 mu g/mL at year 5. Exploratory analyses suggested no potential differences between groups in rSBA-MenC or anti-PRP antibody persistence. No vaccine-related serious adverse events were reported.Conclusions: Antibody persistence was similar for years 4 and 5 after Hib-MenC-TT or Hib + MCC vaccination, with the majority of children retaining anti-PRP antibody concentrations >= 0.15 mu g/mL at both timepoints. The percentage of children retaining rSBA-MenC titers >= 1:8 was low (<= 25%), suggesting that a MenC booster dose may be warranted before adolescence.