15 month vaccines
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15-Month Vaccines: Key Insights and Findings
Pertussis Vaccination and Immune Response in Infants
Maternal Vaccination and Infant Immune Response
Vaccination of pregnant women with a pertussis-containing vaccine is a strategy to protect young infants from severe disease. However, high levels of maternal antibodies can blunt the immune response in infants. A study in Belgium followed infants up to one month after their fourth pertussis vaccination at 15 months. Results showed that while there was a minor blunting effect on anti-pertussis toxin (PT) antibodies, a good humoral immune response was elicited for all measured antigens in both vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups.
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine Efficacy
Optimal Age for MMR Vaccination
A prospective randomized trial compared the seroconversion rates of the MMR vaccine administered at 9, 12, and 15 months. The study found that 98% of children vaccinated at 15 months seroconverted to measles, compared to 95% at 12 months and 87% at 9 months. The seroconversion rates for rubella paralleled those of measles, with the lowest rates in children vaccinated at 9 months. These findings support the recommended age for the first MMR vaccination at 12-15 months.
Measles Vaccine Immunogenicity
Another study examined the immunogenicity of the measles vaccine in infants born to mothers with vaccine-induced immunity. Infants vaccinated at 6 months showed a 74% seroconversion rate, which increased to 100% upon revaccination at 15 months. This suggests that early vaccination primes the immune system, allowing for a robust response upon subsequent exposure.
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV)
Safety and Immunogenicity of 15-Valent PCV
Several studies have evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV15) in infants. A Phase I study in Japanese infants showed that PCV15, administered either subcutaneously or intramuscularly, was generally well tolerated and immunogenic. The vaccine elicited comparable immune responses to the 13-valent PCV (PCV13) for most serotypes, with higher responses for the additional serotypes 22F and 33F .
Comparative Immunogenicity
Further research demonstrated that PCV15 induced higher antibody responses to serotypes 3, 22F, and 33F compared to PCV13. The safety profiles were similar across different formulations and dosages, with no significant differences in adverse events .
Conclusion
The research highlights the importance of the 15-month vaccination schedule in providing robust immunity against pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, and pneumococcal diseases. While maternal antibodies can slightly blunt the immune response to pertussis, the overall humoral response remains strong. The optimal age for MMR vaccination is reaffirmed at 12-15 months, and the new 15-valent PCV shows promise in offering broader protection with a comparable safety profile to the existing 13-valent vaccine. These findings underscore the critical role of timely vaccinations in safeguarding infant health.
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