Abstract
To date 60 children ages 1 to 9 years have been immunized with 25 or 50 micrograms of highly purified meningococcal group-specific polysaccharide. Thirty children received the group C antigen and 30 the group A antigen by subcutaneous injection. Three immunized children developed local zones of transient erythema up to 1.8 cm. in diameter within 24 hours of injection. There were no local or systemic reactions.
Humoral antibodies were measured by bactericidal, immunofluorescence, hemagglutination and quantitative radioimmunoprecipitation assays. Complete antibody studies on 50 of the children showed that all responded within 3 weeks of immunization with the production of specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against the C or A antigen in amounts comparable to those produced by immunized adults. Bactericidal and hemagglutinating antibodies were demonstrated. There was no advantage of the 50 microgram dose over the 25 microgram dose.
Previous stuides with the meningococcal group C antigen in more than 40,000 military recruits has established the effectiveness of this immunization in preventing systemic meningococcal disease. On the basis of results of the current study, it appears that immunization of children with the meningococcal group A and C vaccines would be safe and immunologically efficacious in the age group tested.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lepow, M., Goldschneider, I. & Gotschuch, E. Response of children immunized with menigococal group C and group A polysaccharides. Pediatr Res 5, 402 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00128
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00128