Pneumococcal polysaccharide immunization of children with sickle cell disease. I. Clinical reactions to immunization and relationship to preimmunization antibody.

Vaccine reaction data were obtained from 154 patients with sickle cell disease immunized with tetradecavalent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. There was a high rate (70%) of mild reactions, primarily at the site of injection. Fever over 100 degrees F was uncommon and precipitation of symptoms similar to sickling crisis was rare. Development of local reactions was associated with the level of preimmunization pneumococcal antibody titer.