Besides the main objectives stated in the summary, the study consists of:
Vaccine related objectives:
- To estimate the seroprevalence regarding vaccine preventable diseases in the cohort of children about to enter adulthood (as a "receipt" of the vaccination program's functionality), and thereby form a basis for decision-making regarding recommendations about continuous vaccination in adult age
- To evaluate the concentration of antibodies that full-term newborns receive from their mothers, and to estimate plausible consequences to optimize the schedule of the NIP for each vaccine preventable disease
- To, in different age groups, evaluate changes over time and concentration of antibodies compared to a study conducted in 1997
- To evaluate plausible changes in the seroprevalence, for instance among children, related to an increased use of combined vaccines
- To document the age-specific seroprevalence against other diseases that will be vaccine preventable before start-up of new vaccination program
- To estimate the population seroprevalence against certain diseases against which vaccines have been developed during recent years and that might be introduced into the vaccination program within a couple of decades
Method:
- Adults: one blood sample of 10 mL blood from vein in arm from each individual
- Children: one blood sample of 5-10 mL blood from vein or capillary in arm from each individual
- Cord blood: one blood sample of 10 mL cord blood will be collected from each newborn in connection with childbirth
The objectives of the sub study are:
- To conduct the same type of analysis on foreign born 14-16 year olds as on 14-16 year olds being born in Sweden
- To also examine the immunity and infection situation with regard to Hepatitis B
- To conduct the corresponding examinations and priorities among the 14-16 year olds born in Sweden serving as control group