Response to Measles Vaccine in Haitian Infants 6 to 12 Months Old — Influence of Maternal Antibodies, Malnutrition, and Concurrent Illnesses

Abstract

To study the factors affecting the serologic response to measles vaccination, we evaluated 595 Haitian infants from 6 through 12 months of age, and their mothers, at the beginning of an immunization program. Thirty-four per cent of the infants had preexisting serologic evidence of measles infections by 11 months of age. Among infants more than nine months of age, those who had had measles had a significantly lower nutritional status than those who had not (P<0.01).

After vaccination, seroconversion rates increased from 45 per cent at 6 months to 100 per cent at 12 months. The lowest rate of vaccine failure compatible with acceptably low rates of natural infections could be achieved by vaccination after eight months of age. Infants born to mothers with low levels of antibody to measles (hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titers <1:40) were significantly more likely to have had natural measles (P<0.01) or to have seroconversion after vaccination (P<0.001) at 6 to 10 months of age than were infants born to mothers with higher titers. Malnutrition and acute infections did not affect seroconversion rates.

These data support the World Health Organization recommendation to administer measles vaccine in underdeveloped countries as soon after nine months of age as possible, regardless of nutritional status or the presence of minor illnesses. (N Engl J Med 1985; 313:544–9.)