Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of combined acellular pertussis/tetanus/low dose diphtheria vaccines given as a booster to UK teenagers.

Sustained high incidence of pertussis, particularly amongst unvaccinated infants, is of concern. Inclusion of pertussis vaccination with tetanus and low dose diphtheria (Td) teenage boosters may protect individuals through reproductive years, and prevent transmission to offspring. UK teenagers who had previously received only a three-dose primary course of whole cell pertussis vaccination in infancy and who were due to receive a Td booster (n=323) were randomised to four groups: Td, TdaP, TdaP-inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) (Aventis Pasteur), TdaP (GlaxoSmithKline).

Effect of vaccination with carrier protein on response to meningococcal C conjugate vaccines and value of different immunoassays as predictors of protection.

In order to plan for the wide-scale introduction of meningococcal C conjugate (MCC) vaccine for United Kingdom children up to 18 years old, phase II trials were undertaken to investigate whether there was any interaction between MCC vaccines conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT) or a derivative of diphtheria toxin (CRM(197)) and diphtheria-tetanus vaccines given for boosting at school entry or leaving. Children (n = 1,766) received a diphtheria-tetanus booster either 1 month before, 1 month after, or concurrently with one of three MCC vaccines conjugated to CRM(197) or TT. All of the MCC vaccines induced high antibody responses to the serogroup C polysaccharide that were indicative of protection.