Iron and Vaccine Response

Iron and Vaccine-preventable Viral Disease - an Experimental Study

Vaccines often underperform in Africa compared to high-income countries. Why vaccines do not work as well in Africa remains uncertain. Malnutrition likely plays a role. Our study objective is to assess whether iron deficiency anaemia in young women impairs their immune response to viral vaccines, and whether iron treatment improves their response.

Group 1 (immediate iron treatment) will receive iron treatment before vaccination. Women in both groups will receive two intramuscular vaccines (influenza and yellow fever). Vaccine response will be measured 28 and 56 days after vaccine administration in both groups. Group 2 (delayed iron treatment) will receive iron treatment at study end.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18-55 years old
• Zinc protoporphyrin > or equal 40 mmol/mol heme
• hemoglobin < or equal 109 g/L
• no malaria
• no known HIV infection
• no medical condition that precludes study involvement
• no iron supplementation 1 week prior to study start
• no recent tuberculosis infection
• no vaccination of yellow fever or influenza prior to enrolment
• not pregnant

Exclusion Criteria:

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