The Effect of Childhood Measles Vaccination on School Enrollment in Matlab, Bangladesh

There is increasing evidence that early childhood health interventions have long term effects on cognitive development, educational achievement, and adult productivity. We examine the effect of measles vaccination on the school enrollment of children in Matlab, Bangladesh. An intensive measles vaccination program was introduced in two areas of Matlab in 1982, and extended to two more areas in 1985. Using this staggered rollout as an instrument for vaccination, we find that age appropriate vaccination raises the probability that a boy has enrolled in school by 9.5 percentage points but appears to have no effect on girls' enrollment.