Abstract
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Is the most important cause of bacteremic infections in young children. The annual incidence of invasive infections caused by Hib is 53/100,000 children aged less than 5 years; about 200 cases (meningitis, epiglottitis, febrile bacteremia, etc) are seen yearly in Finland. The fatality rate has been 3% and permanent sequelae remain in at least 15% of the cases. An open trial with a new conjugate vaccine PRP-D (Hib capsular polysaccharide coupled to diptheria toxoid) was started in Finland in January 1986. Up to August 1987, appr. 50,000 children were enrolled in the vaccine group, and another 50,000 children in the control group. The vaccinations took place at 3, 4 and 6 months. Up to February 1987 there have been 3 cases of bacteremic Hib disease in the vaccination group and 30 cases in the control group between ages 7 and 14 months. A fourth dose of PRP-D was given to the vaccination group at 14 months. After this booster dose there have been no cases, but 11 cases in the nonvaccinated control group between the ages of 14 and 24 months. The protective efficacy of PRP-D vaccine has thus been 93%. No significant adverse effects have been observed.
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Eskola, J., Takala, A., Peltola, H. et al. 17. HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE TYPE B CONJUGATE VACCINE (PRP-D) PROTECTS FROM BACTEREMIC DISEASES IN INFANCY. Pediatr Res 24, 656 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00039
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198811000-00039