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Rebecca Voelker
JAMA contributor

JAMA. 1998;279:1771.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

Researchers from Chile and the United States have reported on a way to bring effective vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) to children in developing countries at reduced cost.

Because the standard—and most costly—method of Hib vaccination is a 3-dose regimen, the researchers wanted to determine if fractional doses or a 2-dose series would offer adequate protection. They randomly assigned 627 Chilean infants to receive 3 full doses, 3 doses of one half or one third of the full dose, or 2 full doses.

At the age of 8 months, 93% of the infants who received 3 full doses developed protective antibody concentrations. However, between 91% and 100% of those who received the fractional doses developed adequate protection, compared with 87% of those who received 2 doses.

The researchers said the findings that vaccination can be provided at lower cost may lead to market pressure that could . . . [Full Text of this Article]