Measles vaccine increases child survival beyond protecting against measles

Analysis of more than 38,000 children in Ghana shows that all-cause mortality is significantly lower in children who received the measles vaccine after the third diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination. The study adds to growing evidence that, when administered in the WHO recommended sequence, measles vaccination provides non-specific benefits to child survival. The findings have implications for achieving the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality.