Evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity in United Kingdom laboratory workers of a combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal capsular group C conjugate vaccine

Jamie Findlow; Helen Findlow; Sarah Frankland; Ann Holland; Daniel Holme; Emma Newton; Jo Southern; Pauline Waight; Ed Kaczmarski; Elizabeth Miller; Ray Borrow

doi:10.1186/1745-6673-9-26

Evaluation of the safety and immunogenicity in United Kingdom laboratory workers of a combined Haemophilus influenzae type b and meningococcal capsular group C conjugate vaccine

J Occup Med Toxicol. 2014 Jul 16:9:26. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-9-26. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Public Health England, Public Health Laboratory, Manchester, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, PO Box 209, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK.
² Immunisation Department, Health Protection Services, Public Health England, Colindale, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
³ Public Health England, Public Health Laboratory, Manchester, Manchester Medical Microbiology Partnership, PO Box 209, Clinical Sciences Building II, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WZ, UK ; University of Manchester, Inflammation Sciences Research Group, School of Translational Medicine, Stopford Building, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.

Abstract

Background: Although a combined Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)/meningococcal capsular group C (MenC) conjugate vaccine with a tetanus toxoid carrier protein (Hib/MenC-TT) is not licensed for use in those above 2 years of age due to lack of data on safety and efficacy, certain patient groups at high risk of MenC and/or Hib disease are recommended to receive it. Laboratory workers working with Hib and/or MenC cultures may be at a potentially increased risk of acquiring infectious diseases and vaccination is therefore an important safety consideration. We undertook a clinical trial to investigate the safety and immunogenicity of Hib/MenC-TT vaccine in this cohort.

Methods: A total of 33 subjects were recruited to the trial, all of whom were vaccinated. Serology was completed on samples taken at baseline and four weeks following vaccination to determine MenC specific IgG, MenC serum bactericidal antibody (SBA), anti-Hib polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) IgG and anti-tetanus toxoid IgG responses.

Results: At baseline, high proportions of subjects had protective antibody concentrations against MenC, Hib and tetanus due to previous vaccination and/or natural exposure. Vaccination induced > 3, 10 and 220 fold increases in geometric mean concentrations for MenC SBA, anti-tetanus toxoid IgG and anti-Hib PRP IgG, respectively. Following vaccination, 97% of subjects had putative protective SBA titres ≥ 8, 100% had short term protective anti-Hib PRP IgG concentrations ≥ 0.15 μg/mL and 97% had protective anti-tetanus toxoid concentrations ≥ 0.1 IU/mL. No safety concerns were reported with minor local reactions being reported by 21% of subjects.

Conclusions: Immunological responses determined in this trial are likely a combination of primary and secondary responses due to previous vaccination and natural exposure. Subjects were a representative cross-section of laboratory workers, enabling us to conclude that a single dose of Hib/MenC-TT was safe and immunogenic in healthy adults providing the evidence that this vaccine may be used for providing protection in an occupational setting.

Keywords: Haemophilus influenzae type b; Laboratory workers; Meningococcal; Occupational immunisation; Tetanus; Vaccine.