A review of measles vaccination data found that female children experience substantially higher mortality risks from measles relative to male children and greater reductions in mortality with vaccination. In essence, vaccinating female children against measles provides them with the same survival chances as unvaccinated male children.
South-East Asia
Vaccination against measles may also decrease overall child mortality, especially among children in lower castes
An analysis of children aged 12-59 months in rural India showed that children who were not vaccinated against measles vaccine in infancy had a three times higher likelihood of death, with unvaccinated children from lower caste households having the highest risk of mortality (odds ratio, 8.9). However, the results also revealed a nonspecific reducing effect of the vaccine on the overall child mortality in this region. This indicates that vaccination against measles can benefit the overall population, especially those in lower castes who have not received the vaccine in infancy. Thus, making them the group that would receive the highest benefit.
Cholera vaccine programs were found to be cost-effective across three countries
A multi-site study of cholera vaccination programs found that the vaccine was cost-effective in school- and community-based vaccination programs for children in India, Mozambique, and Indonesia.
A women’s empowerment program was associated with higher rates of immunization among children
An impact evaluation for a women’s empowerment program in India found that the children of mothers who participated the empowerment program were significantly more likely to be vaccinated against DTP, measles, and tuberculosis than children of mothers not involved in the program. This study also found that the women’s empowerment program had positive spillover effects: In villages where the program occurred, children of mothers not in the program (non-participants) were 9 to 32% more likely to be immunized against measles than in villages where the program did not occur (controls). Overall, measles vaccine coverage was nearly 25% higher in the program villages compared to the control villages.
Pneumococcal carriage in infants associated with growth deficits
In a study conducted in Southern India, pneumococcal carriage at age 2 months was associated with a 3-fold risk of stunting and decreased weight, length, and length-for-age by 6 months of age. Pneumococcal carriage at 4 months of age did not affect growth.
Severely malnourished children are 8 times more likely to die of vaccine-preventable illnesses
A study of children under 5 in Dhaka, Bangladesh found that severely malnourished children were nearly 8 times more likely to suffer death from diarrhea than those who were not severely malnourished.
Undernutrition is an underlying cause of child deaths associated with diarrhea, malaria, pneumonia, and measles
An analysis of the association between undernutrition and mortality in young children revealed that in 60% of deaths due to diarrhea, 52% of deaths due to pneumonia, 45% of deaths due to measles and 57% of deaths attributable to malaria, undernutrition was a contributing factor.
Children of mothers vaccinated for tetanus and cholera attain more education
In 1996, a follow-up study was conducted on a 1974 randomized trial of tetanus and cholera vaccine administered to mothers. At the time of follow up in 1996, there was a clear pattern of increased educational attainment among children whose mothers received tetanus vaccine during pregnancy. This pattern was significant for the group of children born to vaccinated mothers with very low levels of education.
Vaccinations in pregnant mothers improves educational attainment in children
This study follows up on a 1974 randomized trial of tetanus and cholera vaccine administered to mothers in Bangladesh. At the time of follow up in 1996, there was a clear pattern of increased educational attainment among children whose mothers received tetanus vaccine during pregnancy. This pattern was significant for the group of children born to vaccinated mothers with very low levels of education.
Vaccination can reduce wealth-related differences in childhood mortality risk
A study of the impact of measles vaccine in Bangladesh found that unvaccinated children in the poorest quintile were more than twice as likely to die as those from the least poor quintile. In addition, vaccination reduced socioeconomic status-related mortality differentials