Immunogenicity of trivalent influenza vaccine in extremely low-birth-weight, premature versus term infants

Carl T. D'Angio, Roy J. Heyne, Shahnaz Duara, Lucy C. Holmes, T. Michael O'Shea, Hongyue Wang, Dongwen Wang, Pablo J. Sánchez, Robert C. Welliver, Rita M. Ryan, Kenneth C. Schnabel, Caroline B. Hall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Influenza vaccine immunogenicity in premature infants is incompletely characterized. Objective: To assess the immunogenicity of trivalent, inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) in extremely low-birth-weight (≤1000 g birth weight) premature (<30 weeks gestation) infants. We hypothesized that geometric mean titers of influenza antibody would be lower in premature than in full-term (FT) (37 week) infants. Design/Methods: In this prospective multicenter study, former premature and FT infants who were 6 to 17 months of age received 2 doses of TIV during the 2006-2007 or 2007-2008 influenza seasons. Sera were drawn before dose 1, and 4 to 6 weeks after dose 2. Antibody was measured by hemagglutination inhibition. Results: Over 2 years, 41 premature and 42 FT infants were enrolled; 36 and 33 of these infants, respectively, had postvaccination titers available. Premature infants weighed less (mean, 1.3-1.8 kg difference) at the time of immunization than FT infants. Prevaccination titers did not differ between groups. Premature infants had higher postvaccination antibody geometric mean titers than FT infants to H1 (2006-2007, 1:513 vs. 1:91, P = 0.03; 2007-2008, 1:363 vs. 1:189, P = 0.02) and B/Victoria (2006-2007, 1:51 vs. 1:10, P = 0.02). More premature than FT infants had antibody titers 1:32 to B/Victoria (85% vs. 60%, P = 0.04) in 2007-2008. Two (5%) premature and 8 (19%) FT infants had adverse events, primarily fever, within 72 hours after vaccination. No child had medically diagnosed influenza. Conclusions: Former premature infants had antibody responses to 2 TIV doses higher than or equal to those of FT children. Two TIV doses are immunogenic and well tolerated in extremely low-birth-weight, premature infants 6 to 17 months old.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)570-574
Number of pages5
JournalPediatric Infectious Disease Journal
Volume30
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • immunization
  • influenza vaccines
  • premature infant
  • vaccines
  • very-low-birth-weight infant

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Microbiology (medical)
  • Infectious Diseases

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