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Antibody persistence for 3 years following two doses of tetravalent measles–mumps–rubella–varicella vaccine in healthy children

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Abstract

Two doses of a varicella-containing vaccine in healthy children <12 years are suggested to induce better protection than a single dose. Persistence of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella as well as varicella breakthrough cases were assessed 3 years after two-dose measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccination or concomitant MMR (Priorix™) and varicella (Varilrix™) vaccination. Four hundred ninety-four healthy children, 12–18 months old at the time of the first dose, received either two doses of MMRV vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) 42–56 days apart (MMRV, N = 371) or one dose of MMR and varicella vaccines administered simultaneously at separate sites, followed by another MMR vaccination 42–56 days later (MMR + V, N = 123). Three hundred-four subjects participated in 3-year follow-up for persistence of immunity and occurrence of breakthrough varicella (MMRV, N = 225; MMR + V, N = 79). Antibodies were measured by ELISA (measles, mumps, rubella) and immunofluorescence (varicella). Contacts with individuals with varicella or zoster and cases of breakthrough varicella disease were recorded. Three years post-vaccination seropositivity rates in subjects seronegative before vaccination were: MMRV-measles, 98.5% (geometric mean titer [GMT] = 3,599.6); mumps, 97.4% (GMT = 1,754.5); rubella, 100% (GMT = 51.9); varicella, 99.4% (GMT = 225.5); MMR + V-measles, 97.0% (GMT = 1,818.8); mumps, 93.8% (GMT = 1,454.6); rubella, 100% (GMT = 53.8); and varicella, 96.8% (GMT = 105.8). Of the subjects, 15–20% reported contact with individuals with varicella/zoster each year. After 3 years, the cumulative varicella breakthrough disease rate was 0.7% (two cases) in the MMRV group and 5.4% (five cases) in the MMR + V group. Conclusion: Immunogenicity of the combined MMRV vaccine was sustained 3 years post-vaccination. (208136/041/NCT00406211).

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the doctors, nurses, parents, and children involved in the conduct of this study; Dr. Joanne Wolter (medical writing); and Drs. Marie Bayle-Normand, Catherine Arnaudeau-Bégard, and Véronique Duquenne (publication coordination).

Sources of support

GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals was the funding source and was involved in all stages of the study conduct and data analysis. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals also took charge of all costs associated with the development and publishing of the present manuscript.

Conflict of interest

MD is an employee of GSK Biologicals. PW was an employee of GSK Biologicals until April 2011. FZ is not currently involved in clinical trials, but has in the past collaborated in trials for Sanofi Pasteur, GSK, and Baxter. He has been a member of monitoring committees for SPMSD and GSK and still is a member of a monitoring committee for Sanofi Pasteur. He has participated at advisory boards for Novartis and GSK and is part of an editorial board for GSK. FZ received travel expenses from GSK Biologicals, Novartis, and Sanofi Pasteur. The University Medical Center Mainz received payments/honoraria from GSK Biologicals, Novartis, and Sanofi Pasteur for lectures and expert consultancy provided by FZ. DKB has received travel reimbursement and payment for lectures from GSK. MK has received travel grants and honoraria for presentations and consultancy from GSK. HM and AP were paid as investigators by GSK.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Department of Pediatrics, University Medicine Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55101, Mainz, Germany

    Markus Knuf, Fred Zepp & Dorothee Kieninger-Baum

  2. Pediatric Office, Detmold, Germany

    Klaus Helm

  3. Pediatric Office, Bindlach, Germany

    Klaus Helm

  4. Pediatric Office, Lohne, Germany

    Klaus Helm

  5. Pediatric Office, Salzburg, Austria

    Hartwig Maurer & Albrecht Prieler

  6. Pediatric Office, Neufeld/Leitha, Austria

    Hartwig Maurer & Albrecht Prieler

  7. GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium

    Martine Douha & Paul Willems

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  1. Markus Knuf
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  8. Paul Willems
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Correspondence to Markus Knuf.

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Priorix-Tetra, Varilrix, and Priorix are trademarks of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

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Knuf, M., Zepp, F., Helm, K. et al. Antibody persistence for 3 years following two doses of tetravalent measles–mumps–rubella–varicella vaccine in healthy children. Eur J Pediatr 171, 463–470 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1569-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1569-4

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