Babies Born Early Antibody Response to Men B Vaccination: BEAR Men B

Overview

In the UK, babies receive their vaccinations according to a standard schedule, irrespective of their gestation at birth. This policy is designed so that all babies are protected as early as possible from vaccine preventable diseases such as polio, diphtheria, tetanus, rotavirus, pertussis (whooping cough), Haemophilus influenzae type B, pneumococcal disease and now meningococcal B disease. The 4CMenB vaccination (Bexsero®) was added to the UK schedule in September 2015 and there has been no research looking at whether the vaccine gives the same protection to babies born early as it does to those born at term. The Investigators want to compare two different schedules of 4CMenB and see if one gives better protection to babies born prematurely. It is possible that an extra 4CMenB dose (i.e. three doses in early infancy instead of two) will offer better protection for premature babies. This is what the Investigators are trying to find out through this study.

This will be an open label, phase IV study. After appropriate consent, 132 premature infants born at \<35 weeks gestation (i.e. up to 34 weeks and 6 days), 50% \<30 weeks gestation (i.e. up to 29 weeks and 6 days) will be randomised to 1 of 2 4CMen B schedules either at 2,4 and 12 months or 2,3,4 and 12 months. Babies will remain in the study for around 12 months, from recruitment to 13 months of age. All visits can be performed at the participant's home or in clinic, depending on the preference of the parents and study team. Blood samples will be obtained at 5 months of age (post primary sample), 12 months (persistence sample) and 13 months (post booster sample). Reactogenicity and safety will be assessed by caregiver completion of a 7-day diary after each vaccine dose. Inpatients will be monitored for cardiorespiratory events for 72 hours after vaccination by healthcare staff and this information will be collected on the CRF. This will include details of oxygen saturations, heart rate, respiratory rate and details of any episodes of desaturation, bradycardia or apnoea. Particular emphasis will be placed on rates, timing and intensity of fever and other adverse reactions in the first 24 hours after vaccination, because this remains a cause of great concern amongst neonatologists.