# Evaluation of the Development of Post-Vaccination Immunity against Selected Bacterial Diseases in Children of Post-Solid-Organ-Transplant Mothers

## TL;DR

This study examines whether children born to organ transplant mothers have different immune responses to vaccines compared to other children.

## Contribution

The study provides evidence that immunosuppression during pregnancy does not significantly affect vaccine immunogenicity in children.

## Key findings

- No significant differences in post-vaccination IgG antibody concentrations were found between the two groups.
- Adverse post-vaccination reactions occurred at similar rates in both groups.
- Current vaccination schemes do not need modification for children of organ transplant mothers.

## Abstract

Pregnancy after organ transplantation is considered high-risk and requires supervision in specialized centers. The impact of immunosuppression on the developing fetus is still the subject of research. It has been shown that it affects lymphocyte populations in the first year of life. For this reason, researchers suggest postponing mandatory infant vaccinations. The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of intrauterine exposure of the fetus to immunosuppression on the immunogenicity of protective vaccinations against selected bacterial pathogens. The ELISA method was used to determine the concentration of post-vaccination IgG antibodies against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, tuberculosis, H. influenzae type B, and S. pneumoniae in 18 children of mothers who underwent organ transplantation. The results were compared with the control group (n = 21). A comparison of the incidence of adverse post-vaccination reactions between the analyzed groups was also performed. There were no statistically significant differences in the immunogenicity of the analyzed vaccines between children of mothers who underwent organ transplantation and the age-matched general pediatric population. There were no differences in the incidence of adverse post-vaccination reactions between the analyzed groups. The obtained results do not indicate the need to modify the current protective vaccination schemes against bacterial pathogens in children of mothers who underwent organ transplantation.