CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS, ACCORDING TO AGE, AMONG FEMALES GIVEN HPV-77 DUCK RUBELLA VACCINE

Abstract

Swartz, T. A., W. Klingberg, R. A. Goldwasser, M. A. Klingberg (Israel Institute for Biological Research, P.O. Box 19, Ness-Ziona, Israel), N. Goldblum and M. R. Hilleman. Clinical manifestations, according to age, among females given HPV-77 duck rubella vaccine. Amer J Epidem 94: 246–251, 197A.— clinical-laboratory study of live attenuated HPV-77 duck rubella virus vaccine was carried out to ascertain the relationship between age at the time of vaccination and the occurrence of clinical reactions, especially joint involvement. All subjects were females in the age range of 6 to 33 years and all were initially without detectable hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody against rubella virus. A high seroconversion rate (95%) was found for all ages. Mild and transient clinical reactions, especially joint manifestations, were noted in a portion of the subjects and there was a clear association between age and the frequency of joint involvement. No joint manifestations were observed in the female children less than 13 years of age. There was a low frequency in the girls 13 to 16 years old (2%) and in the 17- to 19-year-olds (6%). Higher frequency was recorded for adults in the 20- to 24-year age range (25%) and in the 25- to 33-year bracket (50%). An association was found between the stage of the menstrual cycle when the vaccine was given and the appearance or failure of development of joint manifestations which suggested the role of hormonal influences. The HPV-77 duck rubella vaccine was judged to be suitable for routine administration in pre-pubertal children and for large-scale vaccination programs in which the vaccine is given only to females in their early post-pubertal years.