Haemophilus influenzae Type b Immunity After Hib Vaccination and Its Association with Serum Iron, Zinc, and Copper in Southwest Iran: Is a Vaccine Booster Needed?
| Author | Masihollah Shakeri | en |
| Author | Armin Hashemi | en |
| Author | Karamatollah Rahmanian | en |
| Author | Vahid Rahmanian | en |
| Author | Fatemeh Sotoodeh Jahromi | en |
| Author | Mehran Mohseni | en |
| Author | Narges Rahmanian | en |
| Author | Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi | en |
| Orcid | Masihollah Shakeri [0000-0001-9184-9912] | en |
| Orcid | Karamatollah Rahmanian [0000-0003-3324-7651] | en |
| Orcid | Vahid Rahmanian [0000-0003-3460-7495] | en |
| Orcid | Abdolreza Sotoodeh Jahromi [0000-0002-2131-2113] | en |
| Issued Date | 2026-05-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Globally, vaccination has substantially reduced invasive Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease. However, limited information is available on the persistence of protective antibodies after Iran incorporated the Hib-containing pentavalent vaccine into the national immunization program in 2014. Micronutrients, including iron, zinc, and copper, may influence immune responses. Objectives: This study aimed to assess Hib-specific antibody levels and their association with trace element status in vaccine-eligible children in Jahrom, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Jahrom, southwestern Iran, from October 2024 to May 2025. Serum samples were collected from 450 children who had received the Hib-containing pentavalent vaccine after its introduction in Iran in 2014, with doses administered at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. Anti-Hib immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Among 450 children, 246 (54.7%) were male, and the mean age was 78.4 ± 33.2 months. Overall, 75.6% had short-term Hib protection, and 18.7% had long-term protection. The mean serum anti-Hib antibody concentration was 0.547 ± 0.446 μg/mL. Linear regression (adjusted R2 = 0.883) showed that serum concentrations of iron (B = 0.009, P < 0.001), zinc (B = 0.001, P = 0.010), and copper (B = 0.012, P < 0.001) were positively associated with anti-Hib antibody levels. Conclusions: Following the introduction of the Hib-containing pentavalent vaccine, only 18.7% of participants had antibody titers indicating sustained protection. Micronutrients may influence vaccine-induced immunity. These findings underscore the need for rigorous surveillance and reporting of invasive Hib disease to assess the disease burden despite vaccination. The low proportion of children with long-term protective antibody levels suggests that supplemental Hib vaccination may be needed to ensure durable protection. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/healthscope-169270 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/healthscope/articles/169270 | en |
| Keyword | Hib Antibody | en |
| Keyword | Vaccine | en |
| Keyword | Iron Deficiency | en |
| Keyword | Mineral | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Haemophilus influenzae Type b Immunity After Hib Vaccination and Its Association with Serum Iron, Zinc, and Copper in Southwest Iran: Is a Vaccine Booster Needed? | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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