Mother's Gift Project

Comparison of Maternal and Infant Immunization Strategies to Prevent Pneumococcal Disease

This prospective randomized evaluation of pneumococcal vaccine immunization of pregnant mothers, followed by pneumococcal conjugate immunization of their children is designed to assess the effects of these strategies on the immunogenicity and safety of both vaccines. We hypothesize that maternal followed by infant immunization will be safe and will provide higher levels of antibody from birth through 12 months of age.

This is a randomized vaccine evaluation in 4 groups of mothers and their infants, to assess the effect of maternal immunization on the infants' response to pneumococcal vaccine.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Mothers from 18 to 14 years of age in the third trimester of pregnancy,
• with normal medical and obstetric history,
• who plan to deliver their infant in Dhaka city and remain there for 12m

Exclusion Criteria:

• Maternal history of systemic disease,
• Maternal history of previous complicated pregnancies, preterm delivery, abortions, or birth with congenital anomalies.
• Maternal hypersensitivity to any vaccination, or
• Maternal receipt of pneumococcal vaccine in the last 3 years.