Effect of Pneumovax® II vaccination in high-risk individuals on specific antibody and opsonic capacity against specific and non-specific antigen

Pneumovax(R) II vaccine has been used in many countries including the UK for adults in high-risk groups to prevent pneumococcal infections. However, its effectiveness has been a controversial issue. In this study, the specific antibody concentration and opsonic capacity of serum against specific and non-specific antigens were measured in 16 high-risk adults vaccinated with Pneumovax(R) II. The results indicated that 38% of these individuals could make an antibody response to specific antigens post-vaccination; vaccination had a clear effect in increasing the opsonic capacity of serum against specific pneumococcal antigen (S14 serotype) in 31% of patients, but did not have any effect against non-specific antigen. The specific antibody concentration did not significantly positively correlate with the opsonic capacity of serum. Therefore, it is concluded that the protective effect of Pneumovax(R) II vaccination against a specific serotype in high-risk individuals will only be around 30%. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.