Determination of Immune Persistancy measles vaccine six years after vaccination. Does the booster dose required?

Background and

Due to the minor outbreak of measles in the vaccinated individuals, and also, its shifting incidence from infancy to the school age there is concern on the hypotesis decline immune status to measles as the time passes. This study was designed to determine this hypothesis.

The study was a cohort one. Two groups comprised of 225 children of 16-18 months and 7- 7 ½ years were selected. There was a delay of 4-6 weeks in booster dose of the first group (test). Ând 6- 6 ½ years in the second group(control). Their anti measles ÏgG was measured by ËLÏSÂ method.

Ïn the test group G out of 225 persons(2.6%) and in control group 13 out of 225 persons (5.7%) were not immune to measles which was not statistically significant. Çonclusion: The evidence to prove the decline of immune status of measles vaccine in long term was invaluable. Hence the repeatation of measles vaccine at the age of school entrance is not recommended. But another similar study at higher age (10-20 years after vaccination) to determine the stability of immune status to measles is proposed.