Effects of Iron Supplementation on Pediatric Vaccine Response

ID/IDA affects many young children in Africa. Vaccines provide tremendous benefits in LMIC; however, they currently fail to reach their full potential. We need to better understand the causes of vaccine failure, in order to develop new strategies to improve vaccine immunogenicity. This study will contribute to children's health by: (1) providing updated guidelines to better define the prevalence of ID/IDA in early infancy, and its safe and effective control using iron; and (2) providing a new approach to improve response to pediatric vaccines in LMIC, by ensuring adequate iron status at time of vaccination.