Timing of routine immunisations and subsequent hay fever risk.
BACKGROUND
Suggestions that immunisation influences allergic disease risk, either positively (pertussis) or negatively (BCG) are of concern for vaccination policy.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether DTP, MMR, and BCG vaccination in infancy influenced hay fever risk.


METHODS
Case-control study of 7098 hay fever cases and controls, within two primary care databases. One control per case was matched for practice, age, and sex. Odds ratios (OR) were derived using conditional logistic regression.


RESULTS
Compared to those completing in month 5 (base group) (39.3%), DTP unvaccinated children (4.3%) had a similar risk of hay fever (OR = 0.94, 95% CI 0.73 to 1.23). However, those completing after 12 months (4.2%) had a reduced risk (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.76) compared to the base group. Compared to those vaccinated in month 14 (base group) (29.5%), MMR unvaccinated children (2.3%) had an OR of 0.79 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.08). Completion of MMR after two years was associated with reduced hay fever risk (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.80) compared to the base group. The effects of late immunisation with DTP and MMR were independent. Those vaccinated with BCG by age 2 (2.4%) had an odds ratio of 1.28 (95% CI 0.96 to 1.70). Adjustment for consulting behaviour, social factors, or sibship size did not alter these associations.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunisation against DTP or MMR does not increase the risk of hay fever. The lower confidence limit for BCG vaccination contradicts the hypothesised protective effect. The reduced risk of hay fever among children immunised late may be explained by a third factor causing both postponement and reduced risk such as intercurrent febrile illnesses.
Bremner
S A
SA
Department of Community Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Carey
I M
IM
DeWilde
S
S
Richards
N
N
Maier
W C
WC
Hilton
S R
SR
Strachan
D P
DP
Cook
D G
DG
D000367:Age Factors; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects*
D001500:BCG Vaccine; D015721:Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine