On fractional DTP doses

Abstract

I agree with Dr. Brunell that fractional doses of DTP are not recommended as a means of conserving supply (News and Comment, p. 12). In a recent study, Barkin et al was able to show that the severity and incidence of adverse reactions could be reduced by giving half (0.25 ml) of the standard dose of DTP vaccine.1 After the primary immunization series, 97.6 and 97.3 percent of the infants given the reduced and standard doses, respectively, had pertussis agglutinin titers of more than or equal to 1:16.