Effect of Booster Inoculations on the Serologic Status of Children Vaccinated with Poliomyelitis Vaccine

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Abstract
The effect of a booster inoculation of poliomyelitis vaccine on the serologic status of children vaccinated one year previously in the nationwide field trial was investigated. A total of 119 individuals in 3 counties were bled before and after the booster inoculation. Serum antibody titers were determined by neutralization tests in tissue cultures and compared with the serum titers before and after primary vaccinations. Due to differences in the antigenic potency of the original vaccines the primary immunizations had resulted in a good response in children of one county and in a poor response in 2 other counties. A decline in antibody titer over the next year was observed, and the average loss appeared to be more marked in those groups which had shown the better response. The booster inoculation resulted in a sharp increase in antibody titer for all groups, but was especially effective in those who had responded poorly after the primary vaccination. The pattern of antibody titers was observed in an additional group of younger children who were followed for the same period of time but who were tested by a more sensitive technique. In these individuals a very satisfactory response to the primary vaccination was followed by a gradual decline and an excellent response to the booster inoculation. In spite of the difficulty of comparing results in groups receiving different vaccines in different areas, the data are of value in that they represent the serologic status of children immunized under actual field conditions and emphasize the beneficial effects of the booster inoculation one year following primary vaccination.

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