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

Silvia Baroncelli; Clementina Maria Galluzzo; Stefano Orlando; Richard Luhanga; Robert Mphwere; Thom Kavalo; Roberta Amici; Marco Floridia; Mauro Andreotti; Fausto Ciccacci; Maria Cristina Marazzi; Marina Giuliano

doi:10.1111/tmi.13920

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

Trop Med Int Health. 2023 Sep;28(9):731-735. doi: 10.1111/tmi.13920. Epub 2023 Aug 2.

Affiliations

¹ National Center for Global Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
² Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
³ DREAM Program, Community of S. Egidio, Blantyre, Malawi.
⁴ Saint Camillus International, University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy.
⁵ DREAM Program, Community of S. Egidio, Rome, Italy.

PMID: 37533039
DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13920

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Malawi; infants; maternal protection; measles; vaccination schedule.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Viral
Humans
Immunization Schedule
Infant
Measles Vaccine
Measles* / prevention & control
Vaccination

Substances

Antibodies, Viral
Measles Vaccine