MEASLES, MUMPS, AND RUBELLA ANTIBODIES IN VACCINATED BALTIMORE CHILDREN

Objective.-To determine quantitative measles, mumps, and rubella serum antibody levels as a function of time since vaccination in a sample o f vaccinated Baltimore children. Design.-Cross-sectional serologic sur vey. Setting.-Pediatric outpatient departments at the University of Ma ryland Medical Center, Baltimore. Participants.-One hundred seventy ch ildren, ranging in age from 1.5 through 16 years, who had measles, mum ps, and rubella vaccination between ages 12 and 18 months. Results.-Se rum antibody levels to measles and rubella declined with increasing ti me since vaccination. However, no such decline in antibody levels to m umps was observed. Children who were vaccinated between ages 12 and 14 months did not have lower antibody levels than children who were vacc inated at age 15 months or older. Conclusions.-In areas free from natu ral disease, antibody levels resultant from measles, mumps, and rubell a vaccine are likely to decline with advancing age. Revaccination with measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine may boost falling antibody titers .