THE IMMUNOGLOBULIN RESPONSE TO RE-IMMUNIZATION WITH RUBELLA VACCINE

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  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 99  (4) , 531-534
Abstract
An adolescent military dependent population, 86% of whom had documented history of rubella immunization, was screened by 2 commercially available rubella hemagglutination inhibition [R-HAI] tests. All those who were R-HAI antibody negative were immunized and postvaccination sera were examined for the development of rubella-specific antibody (R-IgM). R-IgM was not found in any of the previously immunized subjects despite the lack of R-HAI antibody. R-IgM was detected in 2 seronegative subjects who had no documentation of previous rubella immunization. Thus, although the R-HAI antibody had waned, the engrams of previous immunization remained, resulting in a secondary response on re-exposure. The development of a secondary immune response, despite the absence of detectable R-HAI antibody, casts doubt on the validity of R-HAI as a screening test to determine rubella immunity. Mass immunization of preschool children and vaccination of all older females who lack documentation of rubella immunization should be continued.

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