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Measles vaccination before nine months
K George1, A Joseph, J Muliyil
1Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Insights
Administering the measles vaccine between 6-8 months is safe and effective, significantly reducing mortality risk in children. Early vaccination offers crucial protection against measles, especially in high-risk areas.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Measles vaccination is critical for child survival.
- Early childhood immunization is a key public health strategy.
- Understanding optimal measles vaccine timing is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the protective efficacy of measles vaccine given before 9 months of age.
- To compare mortality rates in children vaccinated at 6-8 months versus 9-11 months.
Main Methods:
- A non-concurrent cohort study of 13,134 children born between 1986-1991.
- Assessed disease and death risks based on measles immunization age.
- Follow-up included children under five years of age.
Main Results:
- Unimmunized children faced higher measles and mortality risks (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively).
- No significant difference in measles risk was found between vaccination before or after 9 months.
- Infants vaccinated at 6-8 months showed similar mortality risk to those vaccinated at 9-11 months.
Conclusions:
- Standard-titre Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine at 6-8 months is safe and effective.
- Early measles vaccination is a vital preventive measure, particularly in areas with high incidence in infants under 9 months.
- This supports timely measles immunization for improved child health outcomes.
Objective:
To measure the protective effect of measles vaccine administered before 9 months of age and compare overall mortality of children vaccinated at 6-8 months and at 9-11 months.
Method:
Non-concurrent cohort study involving all 13 134 children born between 16 January 1986 and 31st December 1991 in Kaniyambadi block near Vellore who had not left the area by six months of age. Main outcome measures were risk of disease and death among the under-five-year-olds according to age at measles immunization.
Results:
Unimmunized children had a higher risk of developing measles compared to the immunized (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in risk of measles among those vaccinated prior to and after nine months of age. Unvaccinated children were at significantly higher risk of death than vaccinated children (P < 0.001). There was no difference in risk of death between infants vaccinated between 6 and 8 months and those vaccinated between 9 and 11 months. There was no difference in the risk of death between boys and girls vaccinated between 6 and 8 months with standard-titre Edmonston-Zagreb vaccine.
Conclusion:
Administration of standard-titre Edmonston-Zagreb measles vaccine at 6-8 months is an effective and safe preventive measure for measles, especially where the age-specific attack rate for children < 9 months is high.