MEASLES IMMUNITY IN ISRAELI YOUNG-ADULTS - EFFECTS OF 2ND IMMUNIZATION AT 18 YEARS OF AGE

Measles morbidity and mortality in Israel have declined since the intr oduction of routine vaccination, even though measles continues to occu r in epidemic cycles. In this study we examined the antibody response to measles revaccination, and the effect of prior administration of im mune serum globulin (ISG) on the antibody response to measles vaccine. A study group of 312 young adults in army service received the Schwar tz strain measles vaccine. Serum antibody levels were studied prior to vaccination and 2 and 4 weeks after vaccination. The finding of this study show that: a) booster response occurs in those vaccinees shown t o have low or undetectable prerevaccination titers of measles antibodi es; b) there is no effect of administration of ISG, prior to vaccinati on, on the antibody response to measles vaccine; and c) at the present level of immunity to measles in the Israeli adolscent population we s till may witness periodic epidemics in populations at risk.