![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
The infant mortality rate (IMR) is one of the most important indicators of the socio-economic well-being and public health conditions of a country. The US childhood immunization schedule specifies 26 vaccine doses for infants aged less than 1 year—the most in the world—yet 33 nations have lower IMRs. Using linear regression, the immunization schedules of these 34 nations were examined and a correlation coefficient of r = 0.70 (p < 0.0001) was found between IMRs and the number of vaccine doses routinely given to infants. Nations were also grouped into five different vaccine dose ranges: 12–14, 15–17, 18–20, 21–23, and 24–26. The mean IMRs of all nations within each group were then calculated. Linear regression analysis of unweighted mean IMRs showed a high statistically significant correlation between increasing number of vaccine doses and increasing infant mortality rates, with r = 0.992 (p = 0.0009). Using the Tukey-Kramer test, statistically significant differences in mean IMRs were found between nations giving 12–14 vaccine doses and those giving 21–23, and 24–26 doses. A closer inspection of correlations between vaccine doses, biochemical or synergistic toxicity, and IMRs is essential.
References
Section:
| 1. | Wegman, ME. Infant mortality in the 20th century, dramatic but uneven progress. J Nutr 2001; 131: 401S–408S. Google Scholar, Medline, ISI |
| 2. | Beck, MA. The role of nutrition in viral disease. J Nutri Biochem 1996; 7: 683–690. Google Scholar, Crossref, ISI |
| 3. | Scrimshaw, NS, SanGiovanni, JP. Synergism of nutrition, infection, and immunity: an overview. Am J Clin Nutr 1997; 66: 464S–477S. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 4. | Anderson, GF, Hussay, PS, Frogner, BK, Waters, HR. Health spending in the United States and the rest of the industrialized world. Health Affairs 2005; 24: 903–914. Google Scholar, Crossref, ISI |
| 5. | MacDorman, MF, Mathews, TJ. Recent trends in infant mortality in the United States. NCHS Data Brief (CDC), no 9. Hyattsville, MD, USA: National Center for Health Statistics, 2008. Google Scholar |
| 6. | Kent, MM. Premature births help to explain higher infant mortality rate. Population Reference Bureau. www.prb.org/articles/2009/prematurebirth.aspx (accessed December 2009). Google Scholar |
| 7. | Xu, Jiaquan, Kochaneck, KD, Tejada-Vera, B. Deaths: preliminary data for 2007. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2009; 58: 6. Google Scholar |
| 8. | CIA. Country comparison: infant mortality rate (2009). The World Factbook. www.cia.gov (accessed 13 April 2010). Google Scholar |
| 9. | WHO/UNICEF. Immunization Summary: A Statistical Reference Containing Data Through 2008 (The 2010 Edition). www.childinfo.org. Google Scholar |
| 10. | Up-to-date European vaccination schedules may be found here: www.euvac.net (accessed 13 April 2010). Google Scholar |
| 11. | WHO. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1979. Google Scholar |
| 12. | WHO. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1992. Google Scholar |
| 13. | CDC. Table 31. Number of infant deaths and infant mortality rates for 130 selected causes, by race: United States, 2006. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2009; 57: 110–112. Google Scholar |
| 14. | Iannelli, V. Immunization timeline. Keep Kids Healthy. keepkidshealthy.com (accessed 21 April 2010) Google Scholar |
| 15. | Bergman, AB. The “Discovery” of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. New York, NY, USA: Praeger Publishers, 1986. Google Scholar |
| 16. | MacDorman, MF, Rosenberg, HM. Trends in infant mortality by cause of death and other characteristics, 1960-88 (vital and health statistics), Volume 20. Hyattsville, MD, USA: National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Government Printing, 1993. Google Scholar |
| 17. | National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Statistics of the United States 1988, Volume II, Mortality, Part A. Washington, DC, USA: Public Health Service, 1991. Google Scholar |
| 18. | Malloy, MH, MacDorman, M. Changes in the classification of sudden unexpected infant deaths: United States, 1992-2001. Pediatrics 2005; 115: 1247–1253. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 19. | Mitchell, E, Krous, HF, Donald, T, Byard, RW. Changing trends in the diagnosis of sudden infant death. Am J Forensic Med Pathol 2000; 21: 311–314. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 20. | Overpeck, MD, Brenner, RA, Cosgrove, C, Trumble, AC, Kochanek, K, MacDorman, M. National under ascertainment of sudden unexpected infant deaths associated with deaths of unknown cause. Pediatrics 2002; 109: 274–283. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 21. | Byard, RW, Beal, SM. Has changing diagnostic preference been responsible for the recent fall in incidence of sudden infant death syndrome in South Australia? J Pediatr Child Health 1995; 31: 197–199 Google Scholar, Crossref |
| 22. | Vennemann, MM, Butterfass-Bahloul, T, Jorch, G, Brinkmann, B, Findeisen, M, Sauerland, C. Sudden infant death syndrome: no increased risk after immunisation. Vaccine 2007; 25: 336–340. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 23. | Stratton, K, Almario, DA, Wizemann, TM, McCormick, MC. Immunization safety review: vaccinations and sudden unexpected death in infancy. Washington DC, USA: National Academies Press, 2003. Google Scholar |
| 24. | Silvers, LE, Ellenberg, SS, Wise, RP, Varricchio, FE, Mootrey, GT, Salive, ME. The epidemiology of fatalities reported to the vaccine adverse event reporting system 1990-1997. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2001; 10: 279–285. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 25. | Torch, WC. Diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus (DPT) immunization: a potential cause of the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). American Academy of Neurology, 34th Annual Meeting, Apr 25-May 1, 1982. Neurology 32(4): pt. 2. Google Scholar, ISI |
| 26. | Walker, AM, Jick, H, Perera, DR, Thompson, RS, Knauss, TA. Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis immunization and sudden infant death syndrome. Am J Public Health 1987; 77: 945–951. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 27. | Fine, PE, Chen, RT. Confounding in studies of adverse reactions to vaccines. Am J Epidemiol 1992; 136: 121–135. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 28. | Ottaviani, G, Lavezze, AM, Matturri, L. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) shortly after hexavalent vaccination: another pathology in suspected SIDS? Virchows Archiv 2006; 448: 100–104. Google Scholar, Crossref, Medline, ISI |
| 29. | CDC. About the sudden unexpected infant death investigation (SUIDI) reporting form. Department of Health and Human Services (accessed 20 May 2010). Google Scholar |
| 30. | GlaxoSmithKline. Rotarix® (Rotavirus Vaccine, Live, Oral) Oral Suspension. Product insert from the manufacturer (April 2008): 6. Google Scholar |
| 31. | FDA. Center for biologics evaluation and research, vaccines and related biological products advisory committee meeting (20 February 2008): 127–128. Google Scholar |
| 32. | MacDorman, MF, Mathews, TJ. Behind international rankings of infant mortality: how the United States compares with Europe. NCHS data brief, no 23. Hyattsville, MD, USA: National Center for Health Statistics, 2009. Google Scholar |
| 33. | Euro-Peristat Project, with SCPE, Eurocat, Euroneostat. European Perinatal Health Report: Data for 2004 (The 2008 Edition): Table 3.1:40. www.europeristat.com. Google Scholar |
