It is important that children born by caesarean section receive two doses of the measles vaccine for robust protection against the disease, the researchers said.
However, a second dose of the measles vaccine has been shown to provide strong immunity in C-section children.
He also highlighted the risk posed by children missing their second measles jab, especially those born by C-section.
(Photo: Getty Images)advertisementThis indicates that many C-section children develop an immune response after the first vaccine dose, but a significant proportion do not.
The study underscores the critical need for ensuring that all children, especially those born by C-section, receive their second dose of the measles vaccine to maintain robust immunity.
Measles is a major threat to human health, despite widespread immunisation efforts. It has been known that maternal antibodies can reduce the effectiveness of vaccines in infants.
However, scientists didn't fully understand how much pre-existing immunity, as well as the mother's and baby's characteristics, affect this.
This gap in knowledge makes it difficult to create effective vaccination policies.
VACCINE EFFECT ON MEASLES
advertisement
In a new study, researchers from the University of Cambridge, UK, and Fudan University, China, found that a single dose of the measles jab is up to 2.6 times more likely to be completely ineffective in children born by C-section, compared to those born naturally.
It is important that children born by caesarean section receive two doses of the measles vaccine for robust protection against the disease, the researchers said.
When the vaccine fails, the child’s immune system doesn't produce antibodies to fight measles, leaving them vulnerable. However, a second dose of the measles vaccine has been shown to provide strong immunity in C-section children. When the vaccine fails, the child’s immune system doesn't produce antibodies to fight measles, leaving them vulnerable. (Photo: Getty Images)
Measles, a highly infectious disease, can cause significant outbreaks even with low vaccine failure rates.
HOW DOES VACCINE AFFECT CHILDREN BORN BY C-SECTION?
The study suggests that the difference in vaccine effectiveness may be linked to the development of the infant's gut microbiome.
Vaginal birth exposes infants to a wider variety of microbes from the mother, which can enhance the immune system.
Professor Henrik Salje from the University of Cambridge's Department of Genetics, joint senior author of the study, said, "The way we’re born, either by C-section or natural birth, has long-term consequences on our immunity to diseases as we grow up."
He also highlighted the risk posed by children missing their second measles jab, especially those born by C-section.
The study's results, published in Nature Microbiology, are based on data from over 1,500 children in Hunan, China.
Blood samples taken from birth to age 12 showed that 12% of C-section children had no immune response to their first measles vaccination, compared to 5% of those born vaginally. C-section births may delay the development of the gut microbiome, impacting the immune system's response to vaccines like the measles jab. (Photo: Getty Images)
advertisement
This indicates that many C-section children develop an immune response after the first vaccine dose, but a significant proportion do not.
To control measles, at least 95% of the population needs to be fully vaccinated.
Professor Salje explained that C-section births may delay the development of the gut microbiome, impacting the immune system's response to vaccines like the measles jab.
"Vaccine hesitancy is really problematic, and measles is top of the list of diseases we’re worried about because it’s so infectious," said Salje.
The study underscores the critical need for ensuring that all children, especially those born by C-section, receive their second dose of the measles vaccine to maintain robust immunity.
MORE ABOUT MEASLES
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, causing symptoms from cold-like signs to severe complications such as blindness, seizures, and in severe cases death.
Major epidemics before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963 led to an estimated 2.6 million deaths annually.
The World Health Organisation reported that in 2022, only 83% of the world's children had received one dose of the measles vaccine by their first birthday, the lowest rate since 2008.
advertisement
As per the provisional data reported to the WHO as of early February 2024, India stood fourth among the top countries with measles outbreaks.
The disease can be avoided by the MMR vaccine that protects against measles, rubella and mumps.
