title: Immune response after primary and re-vaccination with different combined vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella.
abstract: The humoral immune response after primary and re-vaccination confirmed the high immunogenicity of the combined vaccines used: "MMR-Vax(R)", "Pluserix(R)" and "Triviraten(R)". The investigation of paired serum samples of prevaccinal seronegative infants (n90-100% for all three components with the exception of the mumps component of "Triviraten(R)" (38%). However, by additional methods (plaque neutralisation test, immunofluorescence test) mumps antibodies could be detected in 93.4% of infants having received vaccine "Triviraten(R)". The mean values of antibody activities against the three components did not differ significantly after vaccination with "MMR-Vax(R)" and "Pluserix(R)". However, after vaccination with "Triviraten(R)" the mean antibody values were significantly lower (P<0.01) against the measles strain "Edmonston-Zagreb" and especially lower (2-20 times) against the mumps virus strain "Rubini". Revaccination of pre-vaccinal seropositive schoolchildren and adolescents (n=676) with "MMR-Vax(R)" and "Pluserix(R)" produced no different results. The rate of vaccinees responding with a booster reaction reached 68.4% for measles and mumps, but only 8.6% for rubella. A booster reaction could be observed in 100% of those vaccinees who had antibodies at a low level, also in the case of naturally acquired immunity. The low-level range for antibodies against measles was defined as 0.15<0. 40 IU/ml, mumps 1:230</=1:500 and rubella 7-16 IU/ml. The rate of vaccinees with low-level antibodies against measles can become as high as 10%, for mumps 20% and for rubella 3%. The correlation between the level of antibodies and protection against the disease is discussed. The rate of individuals in a population with doubtful protection (unvaccinated, non-responder and low responder after primary vaccination) prevents to reach the herd immunity of 95% necessary for elimination. The results of our serological studies strongly recommend re-vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella.
authors.affiliation: National Reference Centre Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Robert Koch-Institute, Nordufer 20, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tischer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gerike
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D000917:Antibody Formation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009107:Mumps / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009109:Mumps virus / Q000276:immunology; D012409:Rubella / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012412:Rubella virus / Q000276:immunology; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined