Effects of prior influenza virus vaccination on maternal antibody responses: Implications for achieving protection in the newborns

Abstract

Background In the US, influenza vaccination is recommended annually to everyone ≥ 6 months. Prior receipt of influenza vaccine can dampen antibody responses to subsequent vaccination. This may have implications for pregnant women and their newborns, groups at high risk for complications from influenza infection. Objective This study examined effects of prior vaccination on maternal and cord blood antibody levels in a cohort of pregnant women in the US. Study Design Influenza antibody titers were measured in 141 pregnant women via the hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay prior to receipt of quadrivalent influenza vaccine, 30 days post-vaccination, and at delivery (maternal and cord blood). Logistic regression analyses adjusting for age, BMI, parity, gestational age at vaccination, and year of vaccination compared HAI titers, seroprotection, and seroconversion in women with versus without vaccination in the prior year. Results Compared to those without vaccination in the previous year (n=50), women with prior vaccination (n=91) exhibited higher baseline antibody titers and/or seroprotection rates against all four strains after controlling for covariates. Prior vaccination also predicted lower antibody responses and seroconversion rates at one month post-vaccination. However, at delivery, there were no significant differences in antibody titers or seroprotection rates in women or newborns, and no meaningful differences in the efficiency of antibody transfer, as indicated by the ratio of cord blood to maternal antibody titers at the time of delivery. Conclusion In this cohort of pregnant women, receipt of influenza vaccine the previous year predicted higher baseline antibody titers and decreased antibody responses at one month post-vaccination against all influenza strains. However, prior maternal vaccination did not significantly affect either maternal antibody levels at delivery or antibody levels transferred to the neonate. This study is registered with the NIH as a clinical trial (NCT02148874).

The Effects of Birth Year, Age and Sex on Hemagglutination Inhibition Antibody Responses to Influenza Vaccination

“…There was no difference in the influenza B titers regardless of prior seasonal vaccination status, reflecting the higher conservation of influenza B HA, and perhaps a higher incidence of cross-reactive antibodies [ 32 ]. These results are in line with other studies indicating that individuals who have been vaccinated previously have lower titers than those only vaccinated in the current season, unless the prior vaccination was an LAIV [ 6 , 7 , 33 , 34 , 35 ].…”

Pathways linking childhood abuse history and current socioeconomic status to inflammation during pregnancy

“…Participants were also recruited from the OSUWMC Prenatal Clinic and surrounding community of Columbus, Ohio. The broader study examined the effects of prior vaccination on maternal and cord blood antibody levels in a sample of pregnant women (Christian et al, 2017). Data collection for the current study occurred between October 2013 and September 2016 and consisted of two visits (baseline and 30 days later).…”

Functional and structural modifications of influenza antibodies during pregnancy

“…A few of these studies have examined maternal T cell responses (Huygen et al, 2015) and/ or functional attributes of vaccine-induced antibodies (Jennewein et al, 2019). Some attention has been given to other factors influencing vaccine responses such as optimal gestational age to maximize infant seroprotection (Blanchard-Rohner et al, 2013;Eberhardt et al, 2016), and the effect of prior vaccination on maternal antibody levels (Christian et al, 2017).…”