Studies of Live Attenuated Measles Virus Vaccine in Man: I. Clinical Aspects

Abstract

Controlled studies were conducted in community groups, in a hospital, and in an orphanage to measure the clinical response to administration of Enders'' live attenuated measles virus vaccine (1405 TCD50) given immediately prior to 80, 40, or 20 units per pound body weight of measles neutralizing antibody in human immune globulin. Data were available for approximately 800 children, 96 of whom were initially seropositive for measles and who served as a secondary control group. In children in whom 80 units of measles antibody per pound body weight were used and where "normal" family use of acetylsalicylic acid was included, roughly 1 in 5 persons given live virus vaccine developed a maximal temperature response to the vaccine in the range of 101-104.9 [degree]F on one or more occasions. This did not appear to be increased significantly when the amount of measles antibody was reduced to 40 units per pound. The mean of the maximum temperatures for the totals of these groups did not exceed 100.6[degree]F. Roughly 3% of children given vaccine with 80 or 40 units of antibody per pound developed a very mild and transient rash consistent with modified measles. No significant toxemia or other reactions of clinical importance were noted. The live virus vaccine, in the regimen employed, was well received both by parents and by family physicians. Discussions relating to the patho-genesis of measles and to the clinical safety of the vaccine are included.