Title | A Randomized, Controlled Trial of the Impact of Alternative Dosing Schedules on the Immune Response to Human Rotavirus Vaccine in Rural Ghanaian Infants. | ||
Author | Armah, George; Lewis, Kristen D C; Cortese, Margaret M; Parashar, Umesh D; Ansah, Akosua; Gazley, Lauren; Victor, John C; McNeal, Monica M; Binka, Fred; Steele, A Duncan | ||
Journal | J Infect Dis | Publication Year/Month | 2016-Jun |
PMID | 26823335 | PMCID | PMC4857471 |
Affiliation + expend | 1.Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon. |
BACKGROUND: The recommended schedule for receipt of 2-dose human rotavirus vaccine (HRV) coincides with receipt of the first and second doses of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine (ie, 6 and 10 weeks of age, respectively). Alternative schedules and additional doses of HRV have been proposed and may improve vaccine performance in low-income countries. METHODS: In this randomized trial in rural Ghana, HRV was administered at ages 6 and 10 weeks (group 1), 10 and 14 weeks (group 2), or 6, 10, and 14 weeks (group 3). We compared serum antirotavirus immunoglobulin A (IgA) seroconversion (>/=20 U/mL) and geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) between group 1 and groups 2 and 3. RESULTS: Ninety-three percent of participants (424 of 456) completed the study per protocol. In groups 1, 2, and 3, the IgA seroconversion frequencies among participants with IgA levels of <20 U/mL at baseline were 28.9%, 37.4%, and 43.4%, respectively (group 1 vs group 3, P = .014; group 1 vs group 2, P = .163). Postvaccination IgA GMCs were 22.1 U/mL, 26.5 U/mL, and 32.6 U/mL in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (group 1 vs group 3, P = .038; group 1 vs group 2, P = .304). CONCLUSIONS: A third dose of HRV resulted in increased seroconversion frequencies and GMCs, compared with 2 doses administered at 6 and 10 weeks of age. Since there is no correlate of protection, a postmarketing effectiveness study is required to determine whether the improvement in immune response translates into a public health benefit in low-income countries. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT015751.