Niakhar High-Titer Measles Vaccine Trial, 1987-1990

This study reports the methodology and findings of a randomized controlled vaccine trial conducted in Senegal in 1987-1990. Two high-titer measles vaccines of different strains (Edmonston-Zagreb and Schwarz) were compared with a standard vaccine (the Schwarz strain) among infants aged 5 to 10 months. Comparison focused on clinical efficacy, immunogenicity and safety. Although both high-titer vaccines induced an immunogenic response even when given at the age of 5 months, they induced a lower level of antibodies, had more vaccine failures, and were not safe, inducing an excess mortality within two years after vaccination. Scientific, ethical and political issues linked with such negative findings are discussed in this book.