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Licensed Vaccines

Characteristics of measles antibodies in premature infants: Comment

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Article: 2352279 | Received 17 Apr 2024, Accepted 03 May 2024, Published online: 16 May 2024
This article responds to:
A real-world study on the changing characteristics of measles antibodies in premature infants in China

Dear Editor, we would like to share ideas on “A real-world study on the changing characteristics of measles antibodies in premature infants in China.Citation1 ” The purpose of this study was to establish a scientific foundation for the optimization of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) immunization regimens for preterm infants (PT) by examining the evolving features and influencing factors of measles antibodies. PT and full-term infants’ blood samples were taken for the study at 3, 6, and 12 months of age. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test, measles antibodies were quantitatively measured. The findings demonstrated that, prior to MCV vaccination, PT’s measles antibodies dramatically declined with age, underscoring the group’s susceptibility to measles as a result of declining mother antibodies.

A limitation of this study’s design is the absence of a control group comprised of infants who were not vaccinated against MCV. This makes it challenging to assess whether vaccination alone is responsible for the rise in measles antibodies at 12 months or if other factors are also involved. Furthermore, the presence of additional maternal antibodies that might have an impact on PT’s measles antibody levels was not considered in this investigation. Future research could benefit from taking into account the possible influence of other maternal antibodies and incorporating a control group.

The relatively small sample size of this study is a weakness that might restrict how far the findings can be applied. An expanded and varied set of PT infants may contribute to a deeper comprehension of the variables affecting measles antibodies in this cohort. Furthermore, the study only evaluated measles antibodies three times; more frequent tests to monitor the dynamics of antibodies throughout time could be beneficial for future studies.

Potential avenues for future research could involve examining the effects of varying MCV vaccination schedules on measles antibodies in premature-term infants. Further research may also look into the possible function of nursing in the transmission of mother antibodies and the defense of PT infants against measles. Comprehending the variables that impact measles antibodies in premature-term infants is imperative in formulating efficacious immunization approaches to safeguard this susceptible demographic.

Ethical approval

We confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Reference

  • Li M, Zhang W, Zheng S, Guo J, He H, Ma Y, Huang Y, Feng Y, Ji C. A real-world study on the changing characteristics of measles antibodies in premature infants in China. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2024 Dec 31;20(1):2338505. doi:10.1080/21645515.2024.2338505.