Early immunization of neonates with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine.

Described is the evaluation in Brazil of the immune response of early immunization with trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (TOPV). A total of 85 normal neonates from São Paulo were assigned one of the following immunization schedules: group A--one dose of TOPV at birth and subsequent doses at 2, 4, and 9 months of age; or group B--one dose of TOPV at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. Blood samples were collected sequentially from the mother at delivery, from the umbilical cord, and from the child at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months of age for assay of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies. Administration of TOPV at birth, in addition to establishing immunity against poliomyelitis at an earlier stage, produced a superior immune response to poliovirus type 3. At the end of the first year, the proportion of susceptible individuals was 3.7% in group A and 25.9% in group B. When immunization against poliomyelitis is started at birth, excellent seroconversion rates are obtained from the third dose onward.