Immune response to two different dosing schedules of the anthrax vaccine precipitated (AVP) vaccine.

A pilot study compared the immune response of regular (0, 3, 6, 32 weeks) and extended (0, 10, 13, 32 weeks) schedules of the UK anthrax vaccine (anthrax vaccine precipitated, AVP). Concentrations of antibodies to protective antigen (PA) were higher (p<0.05) among recipients of the extended (n=7) versus regular schedule (n=6) at week 32, and 2 weeks after the second and third vaccinations. Toxin neutralisation assay levels and anti-lethal factor antibodies followed patterns similar to anti-PA antibodies. Extending the interval between the first two AVP vaccinations may produce a stronger immune response, but persistence of this effect needs further study.