Non-specific effects of standard measles vaccine at 4.5 and 9 months of age on childhood mortality: randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To examine in a randomised trial whether a 25% difference in mortality exists between 4.5 months and 3 years of age for children given two standard doses of Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccines at 4.5 and 9 months of age compared with those given one dose of measles vaccine at 9 months of age (current policy).

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

The Bandim Health Project, Guinea-Bissau, which maintains a health and demographic surveillance system in an urban area.

Participants

6648 children aged 4.5 months of age who had received three doses of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine at least four weeks before enrolment. A large proportion of the children (80%) had previously taken part in randomised trials of neonatal vitamin A supplementation.

SUBMITTER: Aaby P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2994348 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature