@article{3142875,
    title = "Investigation of serum bactericidal activity in childhood and
adolescence 3-6 years after vaccination with a single dose of serogroup
C meningococcal conjugate vaccine",
    author = "Sakou, Irine-Ikbale and Tzanakaki, Georgina and Tsolia, Maria N. and and Sioumala, Maria and Barbouni, Anastasia and Kyprianou, Miltiades and and Papaevangelou, Vana and Tsitsika, Artemis and Blackwell, Caroline C. and and Kafetzis, Dimitris and Kremastinou, Jenny",
    journal = "Vaccine",
    year = "2009",
    volume = "27",
    number = "33",
    pages = "4408-4411",
    publisher = "Elsevier Sci Ltd, Exeter, United Kingdom",
    issn = "0264-410X",
    doi = "10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.05.047",
    keywords = "MenC vaccine; Bactericidal activity; Children; Adolescence",
    abstract = "Serogroup C meningococcal conjugate vaccines were introduced in Greece
in 2001, and although no cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease were
recorded in 2004, a steady increase was observed since 2005. In this
study, serum bactericidal activity was assessed in sera of 269
vaccinated children at: a mean time of about 5 years after vaccination.
Non-protective antibody titers were observed in most children vaccinated
at age <6 years (85.9%), followed by those between 6 and 10 years
(62.2%). This percentage was considerably lower in adolescents
vaccinated at an age >10 years (37.8%) (p < 0.01). Geometric mean
concentrations of serum IgG antibodies against serogroup C showed a
similar variation. The results indicate that serum bactericidal antibody
titers significantly correlate with age of vaccination; most children do
not have protective antibody titers few years after immunization in
infancy and childhood whereas most adolescents maintain sustained
protection. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved."
}