Aim:
  • To determine whether early commencement of a sequential schedule of two new pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) at one, two, four, and six months (two doses of pneumococcal Haemophilus influenzae protein D-conjugate vaccine, PHiD-CV, and two doses of 13-valent PCV, 13PCV) gives greater protection against otitis media (OM) than three doses of PHiD-CV or 13PCV alone.
  • To determine if a combination of pneumococcal vaccines is superior to single vaccines in terms of immunogenicity, nasopharyngeal carriage of otitis media pathogens, and all-cause otitis media in Indigenous infants living in remote communities.
Objectives:

In Indigenous infants living in remote communities, the immune response, nasopharyngeal carriage of pathogens, and otitis media will be measured in response to:

  1. a combination 3+1 schedule (PHiD-CV at 1,2 and 4 months of age and PCV13 at six months of age). (COMBO group).
  2. PHiD-CV at two, four and six months (licensed in 2009)
  3. 13PCV at two, four and six months (expected to be licensed in 2010).
Chief investigators:
  • Professor Amanda Leach
  • Professor Edward Mulholland
  • Professor Mathu Santosham
  • Associate Professor Paul Torzillo
  • Associate Professor Ngiare Brown
  • Professor Peter McIntyre.