Abstract
During 1976-1977, we obtained measles historical and HAI antibody titers in 421 children and 875 UCLA students and employees and revaccinated those with HAI titers <5. Seventy-five percent of 421 subjects at County clinics had measles antibody (≥5) prior to vaccination. Of 89 individuals with undetectable antibody (HAI titer <5), 21 had no antibody response 3 weeks after vaccination while 3/6 of this group had titers of ≥5 one year later. Post-vaccination GMT's were 67 and 30 at 3 weeks and 10-12 months respectively in 31 subjects with a primary immune response (IgM antibody) and 18 and 8 in 37 subjects with a secondary response (only IgG antibody). A measles epidemic occurred on the UCLA campus even though 91% of 502 students tested during the first week of the epidemic had antibody. At a campus clinic, followup data on vaccine reactions were available from 211 subjects; 42% reported no reaction, 58% reported minor reactions and 3% developed fever and rash. The occurrence of epidemic measles in a college population in which 91% were immune would suggest that our present National goal to immunize 90% of children is inadequate. The large number of older children with measles antibody seeking immunization in public programs, and the minimal response to booster immunization suggests that serologic screening programs to identify susceptibles might be preferable to mass vaccination of older persons.
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Krause, P., Deseda-Tous, J., Cherry, J. et al. 362 EPIDEMIC MEASLES 1976–1977: EPIDEMIOLOGIC, SEROLOGIC AND REVACCINATION STUDIES. Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 424 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00367
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00367