Insufficient measles antibody protection in 6-month-old Malawian infants: Reconsider vaccination schedule?

Silvia Baroncelli1, Clementina Maria Galluzzo1, Stefano Orlando2

  • 1National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Measles vaccination is currently recommended at 9 months, since maternal antibodies are supposed to protect infants until that age. In this study of 6-month-old Malawian infants 98.3% (58/59) had non-protective IgG levels against measles, irrespective of HIV exposure. Anticipating the first dose at 6 months could be considered.