Resumo: A vacinação é uma das maiores intervenções em saúde pública pela segurança e efetividade, porém nem sempre vacinar significa imunizar. Inúmeros aspectos relacionados tanto ao indivíduo que recebe a vacina, quanto à especificidade de cada imunobiológico administrado compõem o processo para a obtenção de uma adequada imunização, sendo essencial que sejam observados para não culminar em falhas vacinais. A análise dos estudos de imunogenicidade e efetividade para as vacinas sarampo, varicela e caxumba apontam para a necessidade da incorporação de duas doses aos calendários básicos de vacinação para o controle das referidas doenças. Estudos epidemiológicos que analisaram surtos dessas doenças identificaram casos em indivíduos que receberam duas doses da vacina, o que pode apontar provável falha secundária. Para a vacina febre amarela, a discussão atual reside no número de doses ideal para a proteção individual. A Organização Mundial da Saúde recomenda dose única para toda a vida. Apesar dos poucos relatos em literatura a respeito das falhas vacinais, os estudos de imunogenicidade demonstram perda de proteção ao longo dos anos, principalmente na faixa etária pediátrica. Num cenário atual de eliminação e controle de doenças, associado à diminuição da circulação de vírus selvagens, o papel da vigilância epidemiológica é fundamental para aprofundar o conhecimento a respeito dos múltiplos fatores envolvidos, que culminam com falhas vacinais e surgimento de surtos. A ocorrência de surtos de doenças imunopreveníveis impacta negativamente a credibilidade dos programas de imunização, acarretando baixas coberturas vacinais e interferindo no êxito da vacinação.

Abstract: Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions, based on its safety and effectiveness, but vaccination does not always mean immunization. Numerous aspects related both to the individual that receives the vaccine and the specificity of each vaccine administered are part of the process of obtaining adequate immunization, and it is essential to observe the aspects in order to avoid vaccine failures. The analysis of immunogenicity and effectiveness studies for the measles, varicella, and mumps vaccines point to the need to incorporate two doses into the basic vaccination calendars in order to control these diseases. Epidemiological studies that analyzed outbreaks of these diseases identified cases in individuals that received two doses of the vaccine, which may indicate likely secondary failure. For the yellow fever vaccine, the current discussion lies in the ideal number of doses for individual protection. The World Health Organization recommends a single dose for life. Despite the few reports in the literature concerning vaccine failures, immunogenicity studies demonstrate waning protection over the years, mainly in the pediatric age bracket. In the current scenario of elimination and control of diseases, associated with the decrease in the circulation of the wild-type viruses, the role of epidemiological surveillance is crucial for expanding knowledge on the multiple factors involved, culminating in vaccine failures and the emergence of outbreaks. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases negatively impact the credibility of immunization programs, leading to low vaccination coverage rates and interfering in vaccination’s success.

Resumen: La vacunación es una de las mayores intervenciones en salud pública, por su seguridad y efectividad, sin embargo, no siempre vacunar significa inmunizar. Innumerables aspectos relacionados tanto con el individuo que recibe la vacuna, como con la especificidad de cada inmunobiológico administrado, componen el proceso para conseguir una adecuada inmunización, siendo esencial que sean observados para no acabar con fallos en las vacunas. El análisis de los estudios de inmunogenicidad y efectividad para las vacunas sarampión, varicela y parotiditis, apuntan hacia la necesidad de la incorporación de dos dosis a los calendarios básicos de vacunación para el control de las mencionadas enfermedades. Estudios epidemiológicos que analizaron brotes de esas enfermedades identificaron casos en individuos que recibieron dos dosis de la vacuna, lo que puede apuntar un probable fallo secundario. Para la vacuna de fiebre amarilla la discusión actual reside en el número de dosis ideal para protección individual. La Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda una dosis única para toda la vida. A pesar de los pocos relatos en la literatura, respecto a los fallos en las vacunas, los estudios de inmunogenicidad demuestran una pérdida de protección a lo largo de los años, principalmente en la franja de etaria pediátrica. En un escenario actual de eliminación y control de enfermedades, asociado a la disminución de la circulación de virus salvajes, el papel de la vigilancia epidemiológica es fundamental para profundizar el conocimiento respecto a los múltiples factores implicados, que culminan con fallos en las vacunas y surgimiento de brotes. La ocurrencia de brotes de enfermedades inmunoprevenibles impacta negativamente en la credibilidad de los programas de inmunización, acarreando bajas coberturas de vacunación e interfiriendo en el éxito de la vacunación.

Resumo: A vacinação é uma das maiores intervenções em saúde pública pela segurança e efetividade, porém nem sempre vacinar significa imunizar. Inúmeros aspectos relacionados tanto ao indivíduo que recebe a vacina, quanto à especificidade de cada imunobiológico administrado compõem o processo para a obtenção de uma adequada imunização, sendo essencial que sejam observados para não culminar em falhas vacinais. A análise dos estudos de imunogenicidade e efetividade para as vacinas sarampo, varicela e caxumba apontam para a necessidade da incorporação de duas doses aos calendários básicos de vacinação para o controle das referidas doenças. Estudos epidemiológicos que analisaram surtos dessas doenças identificaram casos em indivíduos que receberam duas doses da vacina, o que pode apontar provável falha secundária. Para a vacina febre amarela, a discussão atual reside no número de doses ideal para a proteção individual. A Organização Mundial da Saúde recomenda dose única para toda a vida. Apesar dos poucos relatos em literatura a respeito das falhas vacinais, os estudos de imunogenicidade demonstram perda de proteção ao longo dos anos, principalmente na faixa etária pediátrica. Num cenário atual de eliminação e controle de doenças, associado à diminuição da circulação de vírus selvagens, o papel da vigilância epidemiológica é fundamental para aprofundar o conhecimento a respeito dos múltiplos fatores envolvidos, que culminam com falhas vacinais e surgimento de surtos. A ocorrência de surtos de doenças imunopreveníveis impacta negativamente a credibilidade dos programas de imunização, acarretando baixas coberturas vacinais e interferindo no êxito da vacinação.

Abstract: Vaccination is one of the greatest public health interventions, based on its safety and effectiveness, but vaccination does not always mean immunization. Numerous aspects related both to the individual that receives the vaccine and the specificity of each vaccine administered are part of the process of obtaining adequate immunization, and it is essential to observe the aspects in order to avoid vaccine failures. The analysis of immunogenicity and effectiveness studies for the measles, varicella, and mumps vaccines point to the need to incorporate two doses into the basic vaccination calendars in order to control these diseases. Epidemiological studies that analyzed outbreaks of these diseases identified cases in individuals that received two doses of the vaccine, which may indicate likely secondary failure. For the yellow fever vaccine, the current discussion lies in the ideal number of doses for individual protection. The World Health Organization recommends a single dose for life. Despite the few reports in the literature concerning vaccine failures, immunogenicity studies demonstrate waning protection over the years, mainly in the pediatric age bracket. In the current scenario of elimination and control of diseases, associated with the decrease in the circulation of the wild-type viruses, the role of epidemiological surveillance is crucial for expanding knowledge on the multiple factors involved, culminating in vaccine failures and the emergence of outbreaks. Outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases negatively impact the credibility of immunization programs, leading to low vaccination coverage rates and interfering in vaccination’s success.

Resumen: La vacunación es una de las mayores intervenciones en salud pública, por su seguridad y efectividad, sin embargo, no siempre vacunar significa inmunizar. Innumerables aspectos relacionados tanto con el individuo que recibe la vacuna, como con la especificidad de cada inmunobiológico administrado, componen el proceso para conseguir una adecuada inmunización, siendo esencial que sean observados para no acabar con fallos en las vacunas. El análisis de los estudios de inmunogenicidad y efectividad para las vacunas sarampión, varicela y parotiditis, apuntan hacia la necesidad de la incorporación de dos dosis a los calendarios básicos de vacunación para el control de las mencionadas enfermedades. Estudios epidemiológicos que analizaron brotes de esas enfermedades identificaron casos en individuos que recibieron dos dosis de la vacuna, lo que puede apuntar un probable fallo secundario. Para la vacuna de fiebre amarilla la discusión actual reside en el número de dosis ideal para protección individual. La Organización Mundial de la Salud recomienda una dosis única para toda la vida. A pesar de los pocos relatos en la literatura, respecto a los fallos en las vacunas, los estudios de inmunogenicidad demuestran una pérdida de protección a lo largo de los años, principalmente en la franja de etaria pediátrica. En un escenario actual de eliminación y control de enfermedades, asociado a la disminución de la circulación de virus salvajes, el papel de la vigilancia epidemiológica es fundamental para profundizar el conocimiento respecto a los múltiples factores implicados, que culminan con fallos en las vacunas y surgimiento de brotes. La ocurrencia de brotes de enfermedades inmunoprevenibles impacta negativamente en la credibilidad de los programas de inmunización, acarreando bajas coberturas de vacunación e interfiriendo en el éxito de la vacunación.

BACKGROUND Field testing required to license the combined measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine must take into account the current recommendation of the vaccine in Brazil: first dose at 12 months and second dose at 15 months of age in combination with a varicella vaccine. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the clinical consistency, immunogenicity, and reactogenicity of three batches of MMR vaccine prepared with active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) from Bio-Manguinhos, Fiocruz (MMR-Bio), and compare it to a vaccine (MMR produced by GlaxoSmithKline) with different API. METHODS This was a phase III, randomised, double-blind, non-inferiority study of the MMR-Bio administered in infants immunised at health care units in Pará, Brazil, from February 2015 to January 2016. Antibody levels were titrated by immunoenzymatic assays. Adverse events were recorded in diaries. FINDINGS Seropositivity levels after MMR-Bio were 97.6% for measles, 84.7% for mumps, and 98.0% for rubella. After the MMRV vaccine, seroconversion rates and GMT increased substantially for mumps. In contrast, approximately 35% of the children had no detectable antibodies to varicella. Systemic adverse events were more frequent than local events. CONCLUSION The demonstration of batch consistency and non-inferiority of the Bio-MMR vaccine completed the technology transfer. This is a significant technological achievement with implications for immunisation programs.

A non-controlled longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate the combined vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) immunogenicity in 150 children vaccinated in the routine of three health units in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2008-2009, without other vaccines administered during the period from 30 days before to 30 days after vaccination. A previous study conducted in Brazil in 2007, in 1,769 children ranging from 12-15 months of age vaccinated against yellow fever and MMR simultaneously or at intervals of 30 days or more between doses, had shown low seroconversion for mumps regardless of the interval between administration of the two vaccines. The current study showed 89.5% (95% confidence interval: 83.3; 94.0) seroconversion rate for mumps. All children seroconverted for measles and rubella. After revaccination, high antibody titres and seroconversion rates were achieved against mumps. The results of this study and others suggest that two MMR doses confer optimal immunoresponses for all three antigens and the possible need for additional doses should be studied taking into account not only serological, but also epidemiological data, as there is no serological correlate of protection for mumps.

A randomized, double-blinded study evaluating the immunogenicity, safety and consistency of production of a combined diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis-Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine entirely produced in Brazil by Bio-Manguinhos and Instituto Butantan (DTP/Hib-BM) was undertaken. The reference vaccine had the same DTP vaccine but the Hib component was produced using purified materials supplied by GlaxoSmithKline (DTP/Hib-GSK), which is registered and has supplied the Brazilian National Immunization Program for over more than five years. One thousand infants were recruited for the study and received vaccinations at two, four and six months of age. With respect to immunogenicity, the vaccination protocol was followed in 95.6% and 98.4% of infants in the DTP/Hib-BM and DTP/Hib-GSK groups, respectively. For the Hib component of the study, there was 100% seroprotection (>0.15 µg/mL) with all three lots of DTP/Hib-BM and DTP/Hib-GSK. The geometric mean titer (GMT) was 9.3 µg/mL, 10.3 µg/mL and 10.3 µg/mL for lots 1, 2 and 3 of DTP/Hib-BM, respectively, and the GMT was 11.3 g/mL for DTP/Hib-GSK. For diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, seroprotection was 99.7%, 100% and 99.9%, respectively, for DTP/Hib-BM, three lots altogether and 99.2%, 100% and 100% for DTP/Hib-GSK. GMTs were similar across all lots and vaccines. Adverse events rates were comparable among the vaccine groups. The Brazilian DTP/Hib vaccine demonstrated an immunogenicity and reactogenicity profile similar to that of the reference vaccine.