ab Levine 1977.
Methods | Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled phase 1 randomised trial carried out in the summer of 1976 in Baltimore, USA. The aim was to compare reactogenicity and safety of various concentrations of whole‐virion vaccines with split products of various manufacturers. | |
Participants | 158 Maryland children aged 3 to 5 years. 103 children took part in the 1‐dose evaluation of split products, 47 took part in the 1‐dose evaluation of whole‐virion products, and 28 took part in the 2‐dose evaluation of whole‐virion products. | |
Interventions | 50, 100, and 200 CCA units of split vaccines (Parke Davis or Wyeth) or 50 or 100 CCA units of whole‐virion vaccines (MSD or Merrell) or placebo. All vaccines were monovalent containing A/New Jersey/8/76 (H1N1). All were administered as single doses, except for a follow‐up of second doses only for whole‐virion vaccines. Discontinuation of the use of split vaccines was due to disappointing antibody responses. | |
Outcomes |
Serological
Paired sera for antibody titres Effectiveness N/A Safety Fever, nausea, and malaise and a reactogenicity score with definitions described in the Lerman 1977 study |
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Funding Source | Government | |
Notes | The authors conclude that both vaccines were generally well tolerated, with whole‐virion products causing low‐grade pyrexia and split products being virtually non‐immunogenic in 1‐dose schedules. A well‐described study | |
Risk of bias | ||
Bias | Authors' judgement | Support for judgement |
Random sequence generation (selection bias) | Unclear risk | Insufficient description |
Allocation concealment (selection bias) | Low risk | "preparations of vaccines and placebo in coded vials were supplied by the Bureau of Biologics" |
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes | Low risk | Double‐blinding |
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes | Low risk | No losses to follow‐up |
Summary assessments | Low risk | A well‐described study |