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Long-term impact of vaccination on Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) carriage in the United Kingdom

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2004

J. McVERNON
Affiliation:
Immunisation Department, Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
A. J. HOWARD
Affiliation:
National Public Health Service for Wales, Microbiology Cardiff, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XW, UK
M. P. E. SLACK
Affiliation:
Health Protection Agency Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division, Haemophilus Reference Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
M. E. RAMSAY
Affiliation:
Immunisation Department, Health Protection Agency Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, Colindale, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
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Abstract

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A recent resurgence in serious infections due to Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) has been observed in the United Kingdom. More information on Hib transmission in the population is required in order to better understand the mechanism of this increase. The Public Health Laboratory Service (subsumed into the Health Protection Agency since April 2004) conducted four cross-sectional studies of asymptomatic oropharyngeal Hib carriage in children attending day-care nurseries in England and Wales in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 2002. These demonstrated a marked reduction in the prevalence of Hib colonization over time since vaccine introduction (3·98% in 1992; 0·70% in 1994; 0% in 1997; 0% in 2002), which did not explain the increase in invasive disease reports from 1999 onwards. We believe that a reduction in antibody levels over the first 5 years of life in immunized children in recent years has fuelled the rise in reported cases in the absence of an obvious increase in transmission.

Type
Short Reports
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press