Seroconversion after administration of measles vaccine to central Australian Aboriginal children at nine months of age.
A simple procedure for examining the seroconversion rates to measles vaccines in outlying communities is described; this involves the storage and transportation of dried-blood samples on filter paper, which is followed by the detection of measles-specific antibodies by means of a commercially-available immunofluorescence assay. Among 82 susceptible central Australian Aboriginal infants who were vaccinated at nine months of age, 76 (93% [95% confidence limits, 84.9%-96.6%]) children demonstrated seroconversion as a result of the vaccine, which is a figure that is similar to those that have been reported from some developing countries. The implications for a measles-vaccination policy are discussed.
Hanna
J N
JN
Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services, Alice Springs.
Macintyre
A B
AB
Worswick
D A
DA
Burrell
C J
CJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001315:Australia; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection; D003906:Developing Countries; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D014611:Vaccination; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
D000914:Antibodies, Viral