Follow-Up Surveillance for Antibody in Human Subjects following Live Attenuated Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccines

Abstract

Hemagglutination-inhibiting [HI] antibodies [Ab] were present at comparable levels 10 yr after vaccination with Enders'' original Edmonston and more attenuated Moraten (Attenuvax) and Schwarz line measles vaccines. There was no substantial decline in neutralizing Ab for nearly 12 yr after administration of Jeryl Lynn strain mumps virus vaccine (Mumpsvax). HI Ab were present without important decline in amount for at least 9.5 and 9 yr, respectively, in children and adult women after administration of HPV-77 duck cell-modified rubella vaccine (Meruvax). Higher homologous Ab titers were achieved initially following less attenuated Enders'' Edmonston measles vaccine compared with more attenuated Moraten line vaccine and following natural mumps compared with mumps vaccine. Approximately 10 yr later, the mean titers were roughly the same in each instance, indicating no apparent advantage of more virulent vaccine virus or natural infection in providing immunity. The relatively small number of purported measles virus vaccination failures reported in recent years were apparently due mostly to mishandling or misadministration of the vaccine and not to deficiencies in measles vaccine itself.