Measles reimmunization in children seronegative after initial immunization.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the success of measles reimmunization in children without measles antibody after the initial dose of measles vaccine.


METHODS
A prospective clinical trial in Olmsted County, Minnesota, and Northern Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.


METHODS
A total of 130 healthy white, Innu, and Inuit schoolchildren. All subjects had received the post-1980 Moraten measles vaccine 4 to 11 years earlier.


METHODS
Children previously identified as measles antibody seronegative or equivocal after 1 dose of measles vaccine were entered into the trial and reimmunized. Measles antibody was measured a minimum of 6 weeks later using a whole-virus IgG measles-specific enzyme-linked immunoassay (EIA).


RESULTS
Of the 130 children reimmunized, 106 (81.5%) became measles antibody seropositive, but 24 children (18.5%) remained seronegative. Younger age at initial immunization (<13 months vs > or = 13 months) was significantly associated with lack of seropositive antibody levels following reimmunization (odds ratio, 3.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-9.7). In addition, antibody levels after reimmunization were significantly reduced with increasing time since initial immunization (P=.001).


CONCLUSIONS
After 2 doses of measles vaccine, 98.2% of all subjects in this study were seropositive for measles antibody, despite the fact that almost 20% of children did not have measurable antibodies 4 to 11 years following a first dose. These findings suggest that the current public health policy recommending a 2-dose measles immunization strategy, with the second dose given at school entry, will provide high levels of immunity in the community.
Poland
G A
GA
Mayo Vaccine Research Group, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, Rochester, Minn 55905, USA.
Jacobson
R M
RM
Thampy
A M
AM
Colbourne
S A
SA
Wollan
P C
PC
Lipsky
J J
JJ
Jacobsen
S J
SJ
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine