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On the controversy about the efficacy of the antimeningococcal B vaccine: methodological pitfalls

Nota sobre a controvérsia acerca da eficácia da vacina anti-menigococica B: ciladas metodolóicas

The present communication analyses methodological problems related to evaluating the protection given by the antimeningococcal B vaccine to children under four years of age in a case-control study carried out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Detection of a hospital selection bias, among other disturbing features of the study, suggests that the efficacy of the vaccine was underestimated. Altogether, data presented support a wider use of the Cuban-produced vaccine to reduce morbidity and mortality from serogroup B meningococcal disease.

Meningococcal Disease; Case-selection Bias; Anti-meningococcal B Vaccine; Vaccine Efficacy; Neisseria meningitidis


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