Effects of two pediatric vaccines on autoimmune diabetes in NOD female mice

The induction or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases is a potential adverse effect of immunostimulating drugs. Vaccines have been suspected of such actions. Epidemiological studies, however, have so far failed to demonstrate any causal relationship between vaccination and autoimmune diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this study, autoimmune diabetes-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice were treated with two multivalent diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis and haemophilus vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, inactivated polio (DTaP-IVP) or DTaP-IVP/Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)) intraperitoneally at each of 10, 12 and 14 weeks of age. Although non-statistically significant, the incidence of autoimmune diabetes was slightly reduced by the DTaP-IVP vaccine. Blood glucose levels were actually significantly reduced in the mice treated with the DTaP-IVP vaccine relative to the untreated control mice. A slight decrease in blood glucose levels amongst the mice given the DTaP-IVP/Hib vaccine was also noted. Therefore this study does not support previous claims that children's vaccination might be associated with acceleration or exacerbation of IDDM.