The World Health Organization’s DTP vaccine killed more children in Africa than diseases.

The observational studies' results of the DTP vaccine in Africa are noted to be biased and scored very low in the GRADE assessments.

The observational studies' results of the DTP vaccine in Africa are noted to be biased and scored very low in the GRADE assessments.DTP vaccine is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus. In the WHO-commissioned review of DTP based on ten observational studies, it was concluded that the findings were inconsistent as there was updated vaccine information for surviving children. In contrast, no similar update was available for children who died. Hence, the finding's confidence was rated very low according to the GRADE criteria (Refer Page No.29 of 'Systematic review of BCG's non-specific effects, DTP and measles-containing vaccines').

Furthermore, among the ten observational studies, three suggested that simultaneous BCG and DTP administration may be preferable to the recommended schedule of BCG before DTP. There was a suggestion that mortality risk may be higher when DTP is given with, or after, the measles vaccine. Reportedly the methods followed during the studies are against WHO recommendation (Refer Page No.15). The six other studies with very high risks of bias produced highly variable results (Refer Page No.11). The majority of the evidence was generated by a group centered in Guinea-Bissau (Africa). There are negative effects in observational studies.

The WHO-commissioned studies have concluded that DTP's strong beneficial effects on overall mortality.