Vaccine-induced hypersensitivity: Reactionsto live measles and mumps vaccine in prior recipients of inactivated measles vaccine

Abstract

This study is an attempt to explore further the relative roles of virus particle and hosttissue antigens in the genesis of local and systemic reactions to subsequent vaccine challenge. Immunization with inactivated measles vaccine may simultaneously sensitize to its viral component, as well as to nonviral host material in the vaccine. Dermal hypersensitivity following natural measles, accelerated appearance of fever and rash in prior recipients of inactivated measles vaccine when challenged with live measles vaccine, and the unusual clinical picture observed in children previously given inactivated vaccine when infected with wild measles virus bespeak primarily of viral sensitization. On the other hand, delayed dermal and local reactions to live mumps vaccine in prior recipients of inactivated measles vaccine, both of which were grown in chick embryo fibroblasts, appear to represent host tissue sensitization. With the introduction of newer myxovirus vaccines, further definition of the mechanism involved in such reactions may assume practical significance.