Immunity to mumps before and after MMR vaccination at 12 years of age in the first generation offered the two-dose immunization programme

• Published in: Vaccine 1998-01, Vol.16 (2), p.323-327
• Main Authors: Broliden, Kristina, Abreu, Elba Rubilar, Arneborn, Malin, Böttiger, Margareta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; booster; Child; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; Humans; Immunization Programs; Immunization Schedule; Immunization, Secondary; Infectious diseases; Male; Measles Vaccine - administration & dosage; Measles Vaccine - immunology; Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; Medical sciences; mumps; Mumps - immunology; Mumps - prevention & control; Mumps Vaccine - administration & dosage; Mumps Vaccine - immunology; Rubella Vaccine - administration & dosage; Rubella Vaccine - immunology; Rubulavirus - immunology; Sweden; vaccination; Vaccines, Combined - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Combined - immunology
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/S0264-410X(97)88332-6

Sweden was the first country in the world to introduce a two-dose programme of vaccination against measles, mumps and rubella with a combined vaccine (MMR). It was commenced in 1982 and the vaccination was carried out at the ages of 18 months and 12 years. In 1992–1993 the first age-group vaccinated at 18 months reached the age of 12 and accordingly received a second dose of MMR. A total of 382 children participated in the present study. Sero-immunity against mumps was studied by testing neutralizing antibodies using serial dilutions inoculated into cell cultures before and after the 12-year vaccination. Of the 229 children earlier vaccinated (group A), 27% lacked demonstrable antibodies before the booster. Of those without documented vaccination records (group B), 56% were seronegative before vaccination. After vaccination, 93% of group A and 86% of group B were seropositive (titre ⩾2). In the seronegative children, whether vaccinated earlier or not, the seroconversion was ca 75%. Previously unvaccinated children positive before vaccination and thus likely to be naturally immune had a higher mean-titre both before and after vaccination than the seropositive chlidren earlier vaccinated. So far, the two-dose programme has proceeded as expected.