If the data in the current study are confirmed, Dr. Pichichero said, "at 9 months when we take a blood sample for anemia and lead, we may also take a sample for vaccine responses. We could give a booster if needed."
"I think it’s a long way from leading to a change in the vaccine schedule. I think the immediate next step is to get this reproduced in a larger number of kids that are more equally balanced, so we can find out if this is purely an immune problem, or does this relate to allergy or other things that set aside one group from another," said Dr. Sawyer, who previously served on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
For now, Dr. Pichichero said the take-away for practicing pediatricians treating children with recurrent otitis media is that "you can explain to the parent that it may be the kid isn’t making immunity to the infection germ. We have strong hints that the ... immune system is immature."
Dr. Pichichero and his colleagues reported no relevant disclosures. The studies received funding from the Thrasher Foundation and the National Institute for Deafness and Communication Disorders.
*Correction, 10/3/2013: An earlier version of this story misstated the odds ratio for nonprotective levels of antibody in otitis-prone children with hepatitis B. In addition, the article misstated the name of Dr. Michael E. Pichichero.
**Updated, 10/5/2013.