Non-Specific Effects of Standard Titre Measles Vaccination

The general objectives of the proposed research work are: A1) to reduce childhood mortality in developing countries through better control of measles infection by finding the best immunization strategy, and A2) to investigate the hypothesis that standard titre measles immunization is associated with non targeted beneficial effects on childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The measurable, specific objectives of the present proposal are: B1) to examine whether a two-dose strategy for measles immunization at 6 and 9 months of age can reduce measles incidence by 50% through better coverage or improved seroconversion, and B2) to examine whether a two-dose strategy for measles immunization at 6 and 9 months of age can reduce childhood mortality by 20% through better coverage, better protection against measles or non targeted beneficial effects, and B3) to determine the magnitude and duration of non-measles related changes in morbidity patterns after standard titre measles immunization, in particular to test whether measles immunization is associated with a 15% reduction in the risk of diarrhoea, and B4) to determine non-measles related immunological changes among recipients of measles vaccine in order to establish possible pathways for the non targeted effects of standard titre measles immunization.