OPTIMUM Study

Project status: Active

Research area: Population Health > Population Allergy

The number of children diagnosed with food allergies has risen greatly in Australia and around the world in the last 20 years

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.

Overview

The number of children diagnosed with food allergies has risen in Australia and around the world in the last 20 years. There are many factors currently being investigated that may contribute to why so many more children have food allergies.

Information for participants

Who can take part

Healthy babies aged 6-12 weeks of age (born after 32 weeks gestation)
Living in Greater Melbourne, Victoria and Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Greater Perth, Western Australia

Who cannot participate

Babies who have already received their 6-8 week vaccines
Babies with other serious health issues
Babies where a food allergy has already been diagnosed

What happens in the study?

Participation will be for 18 months and will involve 3 study visits, including a free allergy test appointment at 1 year of age at The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Children's Hospital at Westmead or The Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick or Perth Children’s Hospital
Families will also be asked to complete 5 short online questionnaires over the course of the study.