Induction of immune memory following administration of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6/11/16/18 L1 virus-like particle (VLP) vaccine

Background: The duration of protection afforded by vaccines represents a critical test of their utility as public health interventions. Some vaccines induce long-term immunity, while others require booster doses. Vaccines that induce long-term protection are usually characterized by the generation of immune memory. Recent trials of a quadrivalent (types 6, 11, 16, 18) human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have demonstrated high efficacy through 5 years of follow-up. We evaluated the extent to which the vaccine is able to generate HPV type-specific immune memory. Methods: A total of 552, 16-23-year-old women were enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. At enrollment, subjects were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive three-dose regimens of quadrivalent HPV vaccine or placebo with 3 years' follow-up. A subset of 241 subjects (n = 114 in the quadrivalent HPV vaccine group and n = 127 in the placebo group) underwent 2 further years of follow-up. All extension subjects received quadrivalent HPV vaccine at month 60 to examine the extent of immune memory in response to the primary vaccination series.