What are the benefits of editorials and non-systematic reviews?

摘要

Earlier this year my colleagues and I carried out a Cochrane review of the effects of cholera vaccines. The review was large, but because of the data available we concentrated mainly on the older killed whole cell (KWC) variety of vaccines. At the beginning of the review we were aware that cholera KWC vaccines have been discouraged since the 1970s in either endemic or epidemic areas on the grounds that they had low efficacy and short duration (four to six months), required multiple doses, and were less effective in children under 5 than in adults.