Mark Steinhoff
India
School of Medicine, MD/MPH program >> View Final Report
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib) is a major cause of childhood illness, most importantly as a cause of meningitis and pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. Hib is estimated to cause up to 3 million cases of serious pediatric disease and an estimated 400,000-500,000 pediatric deaths annually worldwide. In the last 20 years, Hib vaccine has shown to be highly effective in reducing Hib meningitis everywhere it has been used. However, there is no data regarding the effectiveness oft his vaccine in India or South Asia. This lack of data demonstrating the current burden of Hib and vaccine effectiveness is one of the major obstacles preventing more widespread use of the vaccine throughout India.
In order to determine the effectiveness of Hib vaccine in India, we will undertake a case-control study by identifying laboratory proven cases of Hib meningitis and control children, determine the Hib vaccine status in both groups, and calculate an odds ratio to help determine vaccine effectiveness. The project will provide a locally relevant estimate of the effectiveness of Hib vaccine in preventing Hib meningitis. These local data regarding effectiveness should be useful for policy makers to institute programs aimed at preventing Hib meningitis in the approximately 130 million children of India.
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