Immune response after primary and re-vaccination with different combined vaccines against measles, mumps, rubella

The humoral immune response after primary and re-vaccination confirmed the high immunogenicity of the combined vaccines used: "MMR-Vax(R)", "Pluserix(R)" and "Triviraten(R)". The investigation of paired serum samples of prevaccinal seronegative infants (n90-100% for all three components with the exception of the mumps component of "Triviraten(R)" (38%). However, by additional methods (plaque neutralisation test, immunofluorescence test) mumps antibodies could be detected in 93.4% of infants having received vaccine "Triviraten(R)". The mean values of antibody activities against the three components did not differ significantly after vaccination with "MMR-Vax(R)" and "Pluserix(R)". However, after vaccination with "Triviraten(R)" the mean antibody values were significantly lower (P<0.01) against the measles strain "Edmonston-Zagreb" and especially lower (2-20 times) against the mumps virus strain "Rubini". Revaccination of pre-vaccinal seropositive schoolchildren and adolescents (n=676) with "MMR-Vax(R)" and "Pluserix(R)" produced no different results. The rate of vaccinees responding with a booster reaction reached 68.4% for measles and mumps, but only 8.6% for rubella. A booster reaction could be observed in 100% of those vaccinees who had antibodies at a low level, also in the case of naturally acquired immunity. The low-level range for antibodies against measles was defined as 0.15<0. 40 IU/ml, mumps 1:230