Experimental Vaccination Against Measles

Studies on attenuated measles-virus vaccines in Canada

“…(1962) reported in the preliminary tests of his vaccine that high fever (103°F and over) occurred in 5.7 % of the vaccinated children. This figure varied from 2.5o% (Andelman et al, 1963) to 4.6% (Morley et al, 1964) and to 11.2% (Schwarz, 1964) in later studies. Krugman et al (1963) found that, using the Schwarz vaccine, the percentage incidence of high fever in infants between 1 1/2 and 2 years of age was 35%/6-a rate significantly higher than the 15 % febrile reaction rate observed in older children.…”

“…These reactions can be reduced, but not eliminated, by the simultaneous injection of gamma-globulin with the vaccine. Recently, several further-attenuated measles vaccines have been developed, and the results of preliminary studies on these vaccines have been veryencouraging (Andelman et al, 1963;Hendrickse et al, 1964). The WHO Scientific Group on Measles Vaccine Studies, whose report was published in 1963, recommended in July of that year that the World Health Organization should stimulate, co-ordinate and support a series of field trials on the further-attenuated measles vaccines in a number of countries with different climates.…”