STUDIES ON ATTENUATED MEASLES-VIRUS VACCINES IN CANADA

  • 1 January 1965
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 32  (6) , 791-+
Abstract
This paper describes the results of a study of live attenuated measles vaccines (one in a series of WHO-sponsored field trials) carried out in children 6-33 months old at an orphanage in Quebec City. The Enders Edmons-ton B vaccine alone and the same vaccine administered with gamma-globulin were compared with the Schwarz further-attenuated vaccine. The over-all seroconversion rates were found to be 96. 9%, 98.1% and 98. 8% respectively. Severe clinical reactions, except for high fever, were not observed in any of the groups. Rectal temperatures over 103[degree]F (39. 5[degree]C) were noted in 16. 2% of the children given Schwarz vaccine, in 59. 2% of the children receiving the Enders Edmonston B vaccine alone and in 27. 8% of the children inoculated with the Enders Edmonston B vaccine plus gamma-globulin. The high incidence of mild pharyngitis following inoculation of these vaccines was not observed in the group of children who had received vaccine plus gamma-globulin. No significant differences were noted in the frequency of other symptoms, such as cough, coryza, conjunctivitis and diarrhoea, between vaccinated and control groups.