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. 2018 Feb 1;2018(2):CD004879. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004879.pub5

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
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