Non-specific effects of vaccines: plausible and potentially important, but implications uncertain. Issue 11 (13th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pollard, Andrew J; Finn, Adam; Curtis, Nigel
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 102:Issue 11(2017)
• Page Start: 1077
• Page End: 1081
• Publication Date: 2017-05-13
• Subjects: Tropical Paediatrics -- Infectious Diseases -- Immunisation; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-310282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Non-specific effects (NSE) or heterologous effects of vaccines are proposed to explain observations in some studies that certain vaccines have an impact beyond the direct protection against infection with the specific pathogen for which the vaccines were designed. The importance and implications of such effects remain controversial. There are several known immunological mechanisms which could lead to NSE, since it is widely recognised that the generation of specific immunity is initiated by non-specific innate immune mechanisms that may also have wider effects on adaptive immune function. However, there are no published studies that demonstrate a mechanistic link between such immunological phenomena and clinically relevant NSE in humans. While it is highly plausible that some vaccines do have NSE, their magnitude and duration, and thus importance, remain uncertain. Although the WHO recently concluded that current evidence does not justify changes to immunisation policy, further studies of sufficient size and quality are needed to assess the importance of NSE for all-cause mortality. This could provide insights into vaccine immunobiology with important implications for infant health and survival.