Maternal immunization with pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in the third trimester of gestation

• Published in: Vaccine 2001-12, Vol.20 (5), p.826-837
• Main Authors: Munoz, Flor M., Englund, Janet A., Cheesman, Coni C., Maccato, Maurizio L., Pinell, Phillip M., Nahm, Moon H., Mason, Edward O., Kozinetz, Claudia A., Thompson, Rachel A., Glezen, W.Paul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Carrier State - immunology; Carrier State - microbiology; Carrier State - prevention & control; Double-Blind Method; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Humans; Immunity, Maternally-Acquired; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infectious diseases; Maternal immunization; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Milk, Human - immunology; Nasal Mucosa - microbiology; Opsonin Proteins - blood; Opsonophagocytosis; Phagocytosis; Pneumococcal Infections - immunology; Pneumococcal Infections - microbiology; Pneumococcal Infections - prevention & control; Pneumococcal vaccine; Pneumococcal Vaccines - administration & dosage; Pneumococcal Vaccines - adverse effects; polysaccharides; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prospective Studies; Safety; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology; Streptococcus pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Vaccines, antisera, therapeutical immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(01)00397-8

In a randomized, double blinded study, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PSV) or conjugate Haemophilus influenzae type b (HbOC) vaccine was administered to 60 healthy women in the third trimester of gestation. Total IgG, IgG1, and IgG2 antibodies to pneumococcal serotypes 6B, 14, 19F and 23F were measured by ELISA in mothers prior to immunization, at delivery and 7 months after delivery, and in infants at birth (cord blood), 2 and 7 months after delivery. IgA was evaluated in breast milk at 2 and 7 months, and opsonophagocytic activity in cord blood. PSV was safe and immunogenic in pregnant women. Transplacental transmission of vaccine-specific antibodies was efficient. Maternal immunization with PSV resulted in significantly higher concentrations of pneumococcal antibodies in infants at birth and at 2 months of age, and greater functional opsonophagocytic activity of passively acquired IgG antibody.