Study: Common Household Chemical May Reduce Vaccine Effectiveness

Dr. Richard Malley (hms.harvard.edu)

In a study conducted at the Harvard School of Public Health,  researchers have identified a correlation between the level of a common environmental chemical – perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) – found in a child’s body and the extent to which a child responds to tetanus and diphtheria vaccines.

Published yesterday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study tested levels of PFCs found in 600 children living on the Faroe Islands and found that those children with the highest level of the chemical had a 50% lower reaction to the tetanus and diptheria vaccines, leading to a decrease in vaccine effectiveness.

Although PFCs can be found in common household items, like food packaging, stain-resistant carpets, and nonstick pans, Dr. Rich Malley cautions parents against jumping to conclusions based on the study results. An infectious disease specialist who was not involved with the study, Dr. Malley said,

“I would say it’s an elegant study and it’s provocative, but it’s just showing an association, not a cause and effect.”

Dr. Malley’s Vitals profile lists him as an author of 50 publications on the subject of infectious disease and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

Last updated by Brigid at January 25, 2012.

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