Measles vaccination in the presence or absence of maternal measles antibody: impact on child survival.
Peter Aaby, Cesário L Martins, May-Lill Garly, Andreas Andersen, Ane B Fisker, Mogens H Claesson, Henrik Ravn, Amabelia Rodrigues, Hilton C Whittle, Christine S Benn
Author Information
Peter Aaby: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Research Centre for Vitamins and Vaccines, Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen.
Cesário L Martins: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
May-Lill Garly: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Andreas Andersen: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Research Centre for Vitamins and Vaccines, Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen.
Ane B Fisker: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Mogens H Claesson: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Henrik Ravn: Research Centre for Vitamins and Vaccines, Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen.
Amabelia Rodrigues: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
Hilton C Whittle: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.
Christine S Benn: Bandim Health Project, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau Research Centre for Vitamins and Vaccines, Bandim Health Project, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen.
BACKGROUND: Measles vaccine (MV) has a greater effect on child survival when administered in early infancy, when maternal antibody may still be present. METHODS: To test whether MV has a greater effect on overall survival if given in the presence of maternal measles antibody, we reanalyzed data from 2 previously published randomized trials of a 2-dose schedule with MV given at 4-6 months and at 9 months of age. In both trials antibody levels had been measured before early measles vaccination. RESULTS: In trial I (1993-1995), the mortality rate was 0.0 per 1000 person-years among children vaccinated with MV in the presence of maternal antibody and 32.3 per 1000 person-years without maternal antibody (mortality rate ratio [MRR], 0.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0-.52). In trial II (2003-2007), the mortality rate was 4.2 per 1000 person-years among children vaccinated in presence of maternal measles antibody and 14.5 per 1000 person-years without measles antibody (MRR, 0.29; 95% CI, .09-.91). Possible confounding factors did not explain the difference. In a combined analysis, children who had measles antibody detected when they received their first dose of MV at 4-6 months of age had lower mortality than children with no maternal antibody, the MRR being 0.22 (95% CI, .07-.64) between 4-6 months and 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Child mortality in low-income countries may be reduced by vaccinating against measles in the presence of maternal antibody, using a 2-dose schedule with the first dose at 4-6 months (earlier than currently recommended) and a booster dose at 9-12 months of age. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT00168558.
