Nutri-Vac study: insights into vaccine immunity and nutrition in South African children published

We are thrilled to announce the publication of our Nutri-Vac paper, shedding light on the impact of nutritional status on vaccine-induced immunity in children living in South Africa.

The Nutri-Vac project, which commenced in August 2018 and concluded in April 2024, has been a collaborative effort between teams in South Africa (South African Medical Research Council Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit) and the Netherlands (Radboud University Medical Center, Amsterdam University Medical Center).

Key findings include the association between lower weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ) category and decreased pneumococcal vaccine response in South African children, as well as the correlation between WHZ-score category and leptin levels, a pro-inflammatory hormone.

Furthermore, the study revealed an association between pre-germinal center B-cells and pneumococcal antibody decay over time. This study highlights the importance of understanding reduced response to vaccination in specific populations, which may contribute to development of tailored immunization strategies.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all members of the Nutri-Vac team, including principal investigators, collaborating researchers, and supporting staff from all institutions.

Nutri-Vac was made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including the Pichichero Family Foundation Vaccines for Children Initiative Research Award from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Foundation, KNAW Ter Meulen, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (parent study).

More information

For more information, please visit the project on this website and the open access publication at sciencedirect.com.  Stay tuned for further updates as we continue our mission to improve population-specific strategies for respiratory vaccine effectiveness worldwide!