title: The measurement and interpretation of age-specific vaccine efficacy.
abstract: The age-specific efficacy of a vaccine depends upon the mechanism of vaccine action and the force of infection in the unvaccinated subpopulation. Consequently, inferences concerning the persistence of vaccine-induced immunity cannot in general be made directly from age-specific vaccine efficacy estimates. The definition, estimation and interpretation of age-specific vaccine efficacy measures are discussed using simple models of vaccine action. The methods are applied to data on measles and pertussis vaccines.
authors: Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London, UK.
authors: C P
authors: CP
authors: Farrington
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015982:Bias; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D014612:Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D014612:Vaccines