[Long-term-follow-up-study after measles-vaccination (author's transl)]

Following a first field trial in the year 1966 a second field trial was carried out in the Pediatric Clinic of the University of Vienna in the years 1967 und 1968, in which 420 children were vaccinated against measles by various methods. Apart from the observations of the clinical reactions the chief purpose of the examination was to establish the height of the antibodies achieved, how long they persisted and whether the primary vaccination with split-vaccine had any influence on the level and persistance of antibodies. The results following the combined vaccination were compared with those following with Schwarz-strain alone, whereby no significant differences appeared. The serological follow-up examinations were made after a month, a year, after 3 and finally after 7 years. Whilst in the first year the combined vaccinated children showed an average higher titre, the average antibody titre following single live vaccination were somewhat higher after 7 years and showed a lesser degree of scatter. The values of antibody titres are impart so high that one has to assume a silent booster effect since none of the examined children were taken ill with measles. The single live vaccination by means of Schwarz-vaccine has thus been proved outstanding, is to be regarded as the general method of choice and should be applied as widely as possible since the morbidity risk of measles is considerably high and vaccination is not dangereous. The use of split-vaccine is indicated only with chronically ill children for instance with leukaemia, mucoviscidosis etc. and in infants in the first year of life, if one wants to protect them against measles. If we reach our aim of through-vaccination of the population against measles, infants will no longer be in danger and a prevaccination in the first year of life will not be indicated.