Typhim Vi®
Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine
DRUG DESCRIPTION
Typhim Vi®, Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine, produced by Sanofi Pasteur SA, for intramuscular use, is a sterile solution containing the cell surface Vi polysaccharide extracted from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, S typhi Ty2 strain. The organism is grown in a semi-synthetic medium without animal proteins. The capsular polysaccharide is precipitated from the concentrated culture supernatant by the addition of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide and the product is purified by differential centrifugation and precipitation. The potency of the purified polysaccharide is assessed by molecular size and O-acetyl content. Phenol, 0.25%, is added as a preservative. The vaccine contains residual polydimethylsiloxane or fatty-acid ester-based antifoam. The vaccine is a clear, colorless solution. Each dose of 0.5 mL is formulated to contain 25 µg of purified Vi polysaccharide in a colorless isotonic phosphate buffered saline (pH 7 ± 0.3), 4.150 mg of Sodium Chloride, 0.065 mg of Disodium Phosphate, 0.023 mg of Monosodium Phosphate and 0.5 mL of Sterile Water for Injection.
INDICATIONS
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine is indicated for active immunization against typhoid fever for persons two years of age or older.
Immunization with Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine should occur at least two weeks prior to expected exposure to S typhi. Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine is not indicated for routine immunization of individuals in the United States (US).14
Selective immunization against typhoid fever is recommended under the following circumstances: 1) travelers to areas where a recognized risk of exposure to typhoid exists, particularly ones who will have prolonged exposure to potentially contaminated food and water, 2) persons with intimate exposure (ie, continued household contact) to a documented typhoid carrier, and 3) workers in microbiology laboratories who frequently work with S typhi.14
Typhoid vaccination is not required for international travel, but is recommended for travelers to such areas as Africa, Asia, and Central and South America where there is a recognized risk of exposure to S typhi. Current CDC advisories should be consulted with regard to specific locales. Vaccination is particularly recommended for travelers who will have prolonged exposure to potentially contaminated food and water. However, even travelers who have been vaccinated should use caution in selecting food and water.15
There is no evidence to support the use of typhoid vaccine to control common source outbreaks, disease following natural disaster or in persons attending rural summer camps.14
An optimal reimmunization schedule has not been established. Reimmunization every two years under conditions of repeated or continued exposure to the S typhi organism is recommended at this time.
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine has efficacy against typhoid fever caused by S typhi infection but will not afford protection against species of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi other than S typhi or other bacteria that cause enteric disease.
For recommended primary immunization and reimmunization see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section.
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine should not be used to treat a patient with typhoid fever or a chronic typhoid carrier.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Before administration, parenteral drug products should be checked visually for any deviation from normal appearance including container integrity. The syringe or vial and its packaging should also be inspected prior to use for evidence of leakage, premature activation of the plunger, or a faulty tip seal. If evidence of such defects are observed, the syringe should not be used.
For intramuscular use only. Do NOT inject intravenously.
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine is indicated for persons two years of age and older.
The immunizing dose for adults and children is a single injection of 0.5 mL. The dose for adults is given intramuscularly in the deltoid, and the dose for children is given IM either in the deltoid or the vastus lateralis. The vaccine should not be injected into the gluteal area or areas where there may be a nerve trunk.
A reimmunizing dose is 0.5 mL. Reimmunization consisting of a single dose for US travelers every two years under conditions of repeated or continued exposure to the S typhi organism is recommended at this time.14
The syringe is intended for single use only, must not be reused, and must be disposed of properly and promptly following its use. The skin at the site of injection first should be cleansed and disinfected. Tear off upper seal of vial cap. Cleanse top of rubber stopper of the vial with a suitable antiseptic and wipe away all excess antiseptic before withdrawing vaccine.
HOW SUPPLIED
Syringe, without needle, 0.5 mL - Product No. 49281-790-51
Vial, 20 Dose - Product No. 49281-790-20
CPT® Code: 90691
CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.
Storage
Store at 2° to 8°C (35° to 46°F). DO NOT FREEZE.
SIDE EFFECTS
Adverse event information is derived from clinical trials and worldwide post-marketing experience.
Data From Clinical Trials
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reactions rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The adverse reaction information from clinical trials does, however, provide a basis for identifying the adverse events that appear to be related to drug use and for approximating rates.
Safety of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine, the US licensed liquid formulation, has been assessed in clinical trials in more than 4,000 subjects both in countries of high and low endemicity. In addition, the safety of the lyophilized formulation has been assessed in more than 6,000 individuals. The adverse reactions were predominately minor and transient local reactions. Local reactions such as injection site pain, erythema and induration almost always resolved within 48 hours of vaccination. Elevated oral temperature, above 38°C (100.4°F), were reported in these clinical trials.10,11
Adverse reactions from two trials evaluating Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine lots in the US (18- to 40-year-old adults) are summarized in TABLE 3. No severe or unusual side effects were observed. Most subjects reported pain and/or tenderness (pain upon direct pressure). Local adverse experiences were generally limited to the first 48 hours.10,11
TABLE 310,11: PERCENTAGE OF 18- TO 40-YEAR-OLD US ADULTS PRESENTING WITH LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC REACTIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST IMMUNIZATION WITH TYPHIM (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi VACCINE
REACTION Trial 1
Placebo
N = 54 Trial 1
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine
N = 54
(1 Lot) Trial 2
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine
N = 98
(2 Lots combined)
Local
Tenderness 7 (13.0%) 53 (98.0%) 95 (96.9%)
Pain 4 (7.4%) 22 (40.7%) 26 (26.5%)
Induration 0 8 (14.8%) 5 (5.1%)
Erythema 0 2 (3.7%) 5 (5.1%)
Systemic
Malaise 8 (14.8%) 13 (24.0%) 4 (4.1%)
Headache 7 (13.0%) 11 (20.4%) 16 (16.3%)
Myalgia 0 4 (7.4%) 3 (3.1%)
Nausea 2 (3.7%) 1 (1.9%) 8 (8.2%)
Diarrhea 2 (3.7%) 0 3 (3.1%)
Feverish (subjective) 0 6 (11.1%) 3 (3.1%)
Fever ? 100°F 0 1 (1.9%) 0
Vomiting 0 1 (1.9%) 0
No studies were conducted in US children. Adverse reactions from a trial in Indonesia in children one to twelve years of age are summarized in TABLE 4.10,11 No severe or unusual side effects were observed.
TABLE 410,11: PERCENTAGE OF INDONESIAN CHILDREN ONE TO TWELVE YEARS OF AGE PRESENTING WITH LOCAL OR SYSTEMIC REACTIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER THE FIRST IMMUNIZATION WITH TYPHIM (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi VACCINE
REACTIONS N = 175
Local
Soreness 23 (13.0%)
Pain 25 (14.3%)
Erythema 12 (6.9%)
Induration 5 (2.9%)
Impaired Limb Use 0
Systemic
Feverishness* 5 (2.9%)
Headache 0
Decreased Activity 3 (1.7%)
* Subjective feeling of fever.
In the US Reimmunization Study, subjects who had received Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine 27 or 34 months earlier, and subjects who had never previously received a typhoid vaccination, were randomized to placebo or Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine, in a double-blind study. Safety data from the US Reimmunization Study are presented in TABLE 5.10,11,13 In this study 5/30 (17%) primary immunization subjects and 10/45 (22%) reimmunization subjects had a local reaction. No severe or unusual side effects were observed. Most subjects reported pain and/or tenderness (pain upon direct pressure). Local adverse experiences were generally limited to the first 48 hours.10,11,13
TABLE 510,11,13: US REIMMUNIZATION STUDY, SUBJECTS PRESENTING WITH LOCAL AND SYSTEMIC REACTIONS WITHIN 48 HOURS AFTER IMMUNIZATION WITH TYPHIM (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi VACCINE DATA FROM WORLDWIDE POST-MARKETING EXPERIENCE
REACTIONS PLACEBO
(N = 32) FIRST IMMUNIZATION
(N = 30) REIMMUNIZATION
(N = 45*)
Local
Tenderness 2 (6%) 28 (93%) 44 (98%)
Pain 1 (3%) 13 (43%) 25 (56%)
Induration 0 5 (17%) 8 (18%)
Erythema 0 1 (3%) 5 (11%)
Systemic
Malaise 1 (3%) 11 (37%) 11 (24%)
Headache 5 (16%) 8 (27%) 5 (11%)
Myalgia 0 2 (7%) 1 (2%)
Nausea 0 1 (3%) 1 (2%)
Diarrhea 0 0 1 (2%)
Feverish (subjective) 0 3 (10%) 2 (4%)
Fever 1 (3%) 0 1 (2%)
Vomiting 0 0 0
* At 27 or 34 months following a previous dose given in different studies.
The following adverse events have been reported during post-approval use of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine. These events have been very rarely reported, however, because they were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably calculate their frequencies or to establish a causal relationship to Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine exposure.
Data are organized by MedDRA system organ class and within system organ class, by order of descreasing frequency.
- Gastro intestinal disorders
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- General disorders and administration site condition
Local Reactions: injection site pain, injection site inflammation, injection site induration, injection site erythema, and lymphadenopathy. Fever, asthenia, malaise, flu-like episode, abdominal pain.
-Immune system disorders
Allergic-type reactions such as pruritus, rash, urticaria, difficulty breathing, hypotension. Serum sickness.
- Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Myalgia, arthralgia, cervical pain.
- Nervous system disorders
Headache, loss of consciousness, tremor.
Additional Adverse Events: Post-marketing reports of glomerulonephritis, neutropenia, bilateral retinitis, and polyarthritis have been reported in patients who had also received other vaccines; however a causal relationship has not been established.
Reporting of Adverse Events
Reporting by parents and patients of all adverse events occurring after vaccine administration should be encouraged. Adverse events following immunization with vaccine should be reported by the health-care provider to the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Reporting forms and information about reporting requirements or completion of the form can be obtained from VAERS through a toll-free number 1-800-822-7967 or visit the VAERS website at http//www.vaers.org.17
Health-care providers also should report these events to the Pharmocovigilance Department, Sanofi Pasteur Inc., Discovery Drive, Swiftwater, PA 18370, or call 1-800-822-2463.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
There are no known interactions of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine with drugs or foods.
No studies have been conducted in the US to evaluate interactions or immunological interference between the concurrent use of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine and drugs (including antibiotics and antimalarial drugs), immune globulins or other vaccines (including common travelers vaccines such as tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis A, yellow fever and meningococcus). (See ADVERSE REACTIONS section.)
As with other intramuscular injections, Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine should be given with caution to individuals on anticoagulant therapy.
WARNINGS
Allergic reactions have been reported rarely in the post-marketing experience (see ADVERSE REACTIONS section).
The safety and immunogenicity of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine in children under two years of age has not been established. As with other polysaccharide vaccines, the antibody response may be inadequate. The decision whether to vaccinate children under 2 years of age depends upon the risk incurred by the child on the basis of the epidemiological context.
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine provides protection against the risk of infection related to Salmonella typhi, but gives no protection against Salmonella paratyphi A or B.
If the vaccine is used in persons deficient in producing antibodies, whether due to genetic defect, immunodeficiency disease, or immunosuppressive therapy, the expected immune response may not be obtained. This includes patients with asymptomatic or symptomatic HIV-infection, severe combined immunodeficiency, hypogammaglobulinemia, or agammaglobulinemia; altered immune states due to diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma, or generalized malignancy; or an immune system compromised by treatment with corticosteroids, alkylating drugs, antimetabolites or radiation.16
As with any intramuscular injection, Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine should be given with caution to individuals with thrombocytopenia or
any coagulation disorder that would contraindicate intramuscular injection (see DRUG INTERACTIONS section).
As with any vaccine, vaccination with Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine may not protect 100% of individuals.
PRECAUTIONS
General
Care is to be taken by the health-care provider for the safe and effective use of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine.
EPINEPHRINE INJECTION (1:1000) MUST BE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE FOLLOWING IMMUNIZATION SHOULD AN ANAPHYLACTIC OR OTHER ALLERGIC REACTIONS OCCUR DUE TO ANY COMPONENT OF THE VACCINE.
Prior to an injection of any vaccine, all known precautions should be taken to prevent adverse reactions. This includes a review of the patient's history with respect to possible hypersensitivity to the vaccine or similar vaccines.
Acute infection or febrile illness may be reason for delaying use of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine except when in the opinion of the physician, withholding the vaccine entails a greater risk.
A separate, sterile syringe and needle or a sterile disposable unit must be used for each patient to prevent the transmission of infectious agents from person to person. Needles should not be recapped and should be properly disposed.
Special care should be taken to ensure that Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine is not injected into a blood vessel.
Safety and immunogenicity data from controlled trials are not available for Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine following previous immunization with whole-cell typhoid or live, oral typhoid vaccine (see ADVERSE REACTIONS section).
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine has not been evaluated for its carcinogenic potential, mutagenic potential or impairment of fertility.
Pregnancy Category C
Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine. It is not known whether Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.14
When possible, delaying vaccination until the second or third trimester to minimize the possibility of teratogenicity is a reasonable precaution.18
Nursing Mothers
It is not known if Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine is excreted in human milk.
There is no data to warrant the use of this product in nursing mothers for passive antibody transfer to an infant.
Pediatric Use
Safety and effectiveness of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine have been established in children 2 years of age and older.10,11 (See DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION section.) FOR CHILDREN BELOW THE AGE OF 2 YEARS, SAFETY AND EFFECTIVENESS HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED.
OVERDOSE
No information provided.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
TYPHIM (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi VACCINE IS CONTRAINDICATED IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ANY COMPONENT OF THIS VACCINE.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Typhoid fever is an infectious disease caused by S typhi. Humans are the only natural host and reservoir for S typhi; infections result from the consumption of food or water that has been contaminated by the excretions of an acute case or a carrier. S typhi organisms efficiently invade the human intestinal mucosae ultimately leading to bacteremia; following a typical 10- to 14-day incubation period, a systemic illness occurs. The clinical presentation of typhoid fever exhibits a broad range of severity and can be debilitating. Classical cases have fever, myalgia, anorexia, abdominal discomfort and headaches; the fever increases step-wise over a period of days and then may remain at 102°F to 106°F over 10 to 14 days before decreasing in a step-wise manner. Skin lesions known as rose spots may be present. Constipation is common in older children and adults, while diarrhea may occur in younger children. Among the less common but most severe complications are intestinal perforation and hemorrhage, and death. The course is typically more severe without appropriate antimicrobial therapy. The case fatality rate was reported to be approximately 10% to 20% in the pre-antibiotic era.1,2,3 During the period of 1983 to 1991 in the US, the case fatality rate reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was 0.2% (9/4010).4Infection of the gallbladder can lead to the chronic carrier state.
Typhoid fever is still endemic in many countries of the world where it is predominantly a disease of school-age children and may be a major public health problem. Most cases of typhoid fever in the US are thought to be acquired during foreign travel. During the periods of 1975 to 1984 and 1983 to 1984, respectively, 62% and 70% of the cases of typhoid fever reported to the CDC were acquired during foreign travel; this compares to 33% of cases during 1967-1972.5
In 1992, 414 cases of typhoid fever were reported to the CDC. Of these 414 cases, 1 (0.2%) case occurred in an infant under one year of age; 77 (18.6%) cases occurred in persons one to nine years of age; 81 (19.6%) cases occurred in persons 10 to 19 years of age; 251 (60.6%) cases occurred in individuals =20 years of age; the age was not available for 4 (1%) cases. One death was reported in 1991.4 Domestic surveillance could underestimate the risk of typhoid fever in travelers since the disease is unlikely to be reported for persons who received diagnosis and treatment overseas.6
Approximately 2% to 4% of acute typhoid fever cases develop into a chronic carrier state. The chronic carrier state occurs more frequently with advanced age, and among females than males.2,7 These non-symptomatic carriers are the natural reservoir for S typhi and can serve to maintain the disease in its endemic state or to directly infect new individuals. Outbreaks of typhoid fever are often traced to food handlers who are asymptomatic carriers.8
Two formulations were utilized in studies of the Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine. These included the liquid formulation which is identical to Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine and a lyophilized formulation.
The protective efficacy of each of these formulations of the Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine was assessed independently in two trials conducted in areas where typhoid fever is endemic. A single intramuscular dose of 25 µg was used in these efficacy studies. A randomized double-blind controlled trial with Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine (liquid formulation) was conducted in five villages west of Katmandu, Nepal. There were 6,908 vaccinated subjects: 3,454 received Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine and 3,454 in the control group received a 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Of the 6,908 subjects, 6,439 subjects were in the target population of 5 to 44 years of age. In addition, 165 children ages 2 to 4 years and 304 adults over 44 years of age were included in the study. The overall protective efficacy of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine was 74% (95% confidence interval (CI): 49% to 87%) for blood culture confirmed cases of typhoid fever during 20 months of post-vaccination follow-up.9,10,11
The protective efficacy of the Typhoid Vi Polysaccharide Vaccine, lyophilized formulation, was evaluated in a randomized double-blind controlled trial conducted in South Africa. There were 11,384 vaccinated children 5 to 15 years of age; 5,692 children received the Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine and 5,692 in the control group received Meningococcal Polysaccharide (Groups A+C) Vaccine. The protective efficacy for the Vi capsular polysaccharide (lyophilized formulation) group for blood culture confirmed cases of typhoid fever was 55% (95% CI: 30% to 70%) overall during 3 years of post-vaccination follow-up, and was 61%, 52% and 50%, respectively, for years 1, 2, and 3. Vaccination was associated with an increase in anti-Vi antibodies as measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody levels remained elevated at 6 and 12 months post-vaccination.11,12
Because of the low incidence of typhoid fever, efficacy studies were not feasible in a US population.
Controlled comparative efficacy studies of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine and other types of typhoid vaccines have not been performed.
An increase in serum anti-capsular antibodies is thought to be the basis of protection provided by Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine. However, a specific correlation of post-vaccination antibody levels with subsequent protection is not available and the level of Vi antibody that will provide protection has not been determined. Also, limitations exist for comparing immunogenicity results from subjects in endemic areas, where some subjects have baseline serological evidence of prior S typhi exposure, to naive populations such as most American travelers.
In endemic regions (Nepal, South Africa, Indonesia) where trials were conducted, pre-vaccination geometric mean antibody levels suggest that infection with S typhi had previously occurred in a large percentage of the vaccinees. In these populations, specific antibody levels increased four-fold or greater in 68% to 87.5% of older children and adult subjects following vaccination. For 43 persons 15 to 44 years of age in the Nepal pilot study, geometric mean specific antibody levels pre- and 3 weeks post-vaccination were, respectively, 0.38 and 3.68 µg antibody/mL by RIA; 79% had a four-fold or greater rise in Vi antibody levels.9,12
Immunogenicity and safety trials were conducted in a racially mixed US population. A single dose of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine induced a four-fold or greater increase in antibody levels in 88% and 96% of this adult population for 2 studies, respectively, following vaccination (see TABLE 1).10,13
TABLE 110,13: Vi ANTIBODY LEVELS IN US ADULTS 18 TO 40 YEARS OF AGE GIVEN TYPHIM (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi VACCINE
GEOMETRIC MEAN ANTIBODY LEVELS (µg antibody/mLbyRIA)
N Pre (95% CI) Post (4 weeks) % ? 4 FOLD INCREASE
(95% CI)
Trial 1 (1 lot) 54 0.16
(0.13 to 0.21) 3.23
(2.59 to 4.03) 96% (52/54)
(87% to 100%)
Trial 2 (2 lots combined) 97 0.17
(0.14 to 0.21) 2.86
(2.26 to 3.62) 88% (85/97)
(81% to 94%)
No studies of safety and immunogenicity have been conducted in US children. A double-blind randomized controlled trial testing the safety and immunogenicity of Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine was performed in 175 Indonesian children. The percentage of 2- to 5-year-old children achieving a four-fold or greater increase in antibody levels at 4 weeks post-vaccination was 96.3% (52/54) (95% CI: 87.3% to 99.6%), and in the study subset of 2-year-old children was 94.4% (17/18) (95% CI: 72.7% to 99.9%). The geometric mean levels (µg antibody/mL by RIA) for the 2-to 5-year-old children and the subset of 2-year-olds were, respectively, 5.81 (4.36 to 7.77) and 5.76 (3.48 to 9.53).10,11
In the US Reimmunization Study, adults previously immunized with Typhim (typhoid vi polysaccharide vaccine) Vi vaccine in other studies were reimmunized with a 25 µg dose at 27 or 34 months after the primary dose. Data on antibody response to primary immunization, decline following primary immunization, and response to reimmunization are presented in TABLE 2. Antibody levels attained following reimmunization at 27 or 34 months after the primary dose were similar to levels attained following the primary immunization.10,13 This response is typical for a T-cell independent polysaccharide vaccine in that reimmunization does not elicit higher antibody levels than primary immunization. The safety of reimmunization was also evaluated in this study (see ADVERSE REACTIONS section).