Measles, polio and tetanus toxoid antibody levels in Gambian children aged 3 to 4 years following routine vaccination.

Abstract

A nation-wide cross-sectional survey of 816 children 3-4 years old was carried out in The Gambia between September 1990 and July 1991 to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against 3 diseases included in the expanded programme on immunization: measles, poliomyelitis and tetanus. Among 689 children whose records were available, 94.5% were fully immunized. Measles vaccine was administered to 97% of the children and 91% of these had detectable antibodies at the time of the survey. Antibodies against type 1 and type 3 polioviruses, after up to 6 doses of oral polio vaccine, were present in 88.1% and 89.3% of the children respectively. Ninety-seven percent of the children who had received 4 doses of diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine (DPT) and 91% of those who received 3 doses had detectable tetanus toxoid antibodies at the age of 3-4 years. This study shows that serological responses to EPI vaccines given in infancy persist at very satisfactory levels throughout early childhood.

• Authors: M Fortuin, N Maine, M Mendy, A Hall, M George, H Whittle
• Journal: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg) 1995 May-Jun Vol. 89 Issue 3 Pg. 326-9 ISSN: 0035-9203 [Print] England
• PMID: 7660451 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Viral
• Measles Vaccine
• Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Age Factors
• Antibodies, Viral (analysis)
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Gambia
• Humans
• Immunization Schedule
• Measles (prevention & control)
• Measles Vaccine (administration & dosage)
• Poliomyelitis (prevention & control)
• Poliovirus Vaccine, Oral (administration & dosage)