Measles vaccination. I. Serologic responses to vaccination with inactivated vaccine.

Abstract

A survey of 302 patients from a total population of approximately 2600 patients indicated serologic susceptibility of 20 (7%) as defined by an absence of measles virus neutralizing antibodies. A chemically inactivated (ethylene oxide) measles virus vaccine was administered according to an arbitrary vaccination schedule (1.0 ml subcutaneously at intervals of 4 weeks for a total of 3 injections) and! in 10 of 12 serologically-susceptible patients the formation of measles antibodies was stimulated (serological conversion was accomplished). Patients who had detectable antibodies prior to vaccination showed sharp elevation of titers in response to a single injection of vaccine. In all patients tested, antibody titers promptly declined when the antigenic stimulus was not repeated. However, revaccination of the originally serologically-susceptible individuals resulted in significant increases in antibody titers. Since no natural challenge in the form of measles occurred in the population during the period of study, there was no opportunity to evaluate the protective value of these antibody demonstrations.