Contact us
If you'd like to get in touch, please contact us by phone or email.
Phone: 0400 450 240
Email: OPTIMUM@telethonkids.org.au
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The number of children suffering from food allergies appears to have risen greatly in the last 20 years. Serious allergic reactions can be life-threatening and statistics show up to 3 in every 10 Australian children develop either a food-related allergy or eczema.
Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise what certain germs look like. Researchers believe some vaccines might also help prevent allergy by training the immune system to recognise the difference between germs that are harmful and things that are not harmful, like food. By training the immune system in this way, there is potential to prevent allergic responses to harmless substances.
The OPTIMUM study is looking to determine whether one dose of 'whole cell' pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine given at two months of age instead of the current 'acellular' pertussis vaccine can help protect young children against allergic outcomes.
In the OPTIMUM Study, half of the babies will receive the ‘whole cell’ pertussis vaccine and the other half will receive the ‘acellular’ pertussis vaccine at two months of age. Subsequent pertussis vaccinations at 4 months and 6 months will be the 'acellular' pertussis vaccine currently given to all babies. Participants in the study will be followed up until they are around 19 months old to try and find out if babies who received the 'whole cell' vaccine are less likely to develop allergic conditions such as food allergy or eczema.
Stage one of the study will involve 150 healthy WA babies starting at 6-12 weeks of age, progressing to 2000 babies in stage two.
Participants MUST be:
Participants MUST NOT have:
If you are currently pregnant or have recently had a baby and are interested in being involved, then please call us on: 0400 450 240 or email us at OPTIMUM@telethonkids.org.au
If you'd like to get in touch, please contact us by phone or email.
Phone: 0400 450 240
Email: OPTIMUM@telethonkids.org.au