Vaccine
Volume 31, Issue 21, Pages 2481-2538 (17 May 2013)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0264410X
Theme: Human Immune Response to Vaccines in the First Year of Life
Edited by Professor Willem Hanekom, Assist.Prof.Tobias R. Kollmann and Assist.Prof.Ofer Levy

Human immune responses to vaccines in the first year of life: Biological, socio-economic and ethical issues – A viewpoint
Review Article
Pages 2483-2488
M.O.C. Ota, O.T. Idoko, E.O. Ogundare, M.O. Afolabi
Abstract
Human newborns are vulnerable to infectious diseases that account for majority of the morbidity and mortality, particularly in first year of life. Vaccines have become the most effective public health intervention strategy to curtail the prevalence of these infectious diseases. Although vaccines against a number of diseases exist, there are no vaccines against many other diseases that commonly affect children. The adequate assessment of immune responses to vaccines is an important step in the development of vaccines. However, a number of biological and “non-medical” socio-economic and ethical factors could influence either the administration and/or evaluation of vaccines in infants. Recognition and understanding of these determinants are crucial in planning interventions and for logical interpretations of results.