Measles, mumps and rubella immunization at nine months in a developing country.
The antibody responses and reactogenicity of a measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in 9-month-old and 15-month-old black children in South Africa were compared. The antibody response to the measles component was marginally better in the older group, but no differences were observed in the response to the mumps and rubella components. Reactogenicity was similar in the two age groups. Therefore it is possible that a trivalent measles, mumps and rubella vaccine can safely and effectively replace routine measles immunization at 9 months of age in this population. Whether routine immunization policy should incorporate such a vaccine depends on the extent of acceptance of measles vaccination. In urban populations of developing countries with high rates of measles immunization, routine vaccination at 9 months might interrupt circulating wild type rubella and provide sufficient herd immunity to protect susceptible women of childbearing age. It also should decrease significantly the complications associated with wild type mumps infection. The replacement of measles vaccine by a trivalent vaccine may be very cost-effective.
Schoub
B D
BD
National Institute for Virology, Sandringham, South Africa.
Johnson
S
S
McAnerney
J M
JM
Wagstaff
L A
LA
Matsie
W
W
Reinach
S G
SG
Vandevoorde
D
D
Andre
F E
FE
Teuwen
D E
DE
D001741:Black or African American; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000191:economics; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009107:Mumps / Q000517:prevention & control; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012409:Rubella / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine