MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA, AND VARICELLA COMBINATION VACCINE - SAFETY AND IMMUNOGENICITY ALONE AND IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER VACCINES GIVEN TO CHILDREN

Eight hundred and twelve children, 12 months to 3.5 years of age, were enrolled in two clinical studies to evaluate the safety and immunogen icity of a live, attenuated combination vaccine for measles, mumps, ru bella, and varicella (MMRV). Children were enrolled in one of two rand omized, multicenter studies, involving administration of (1) MMRV and placebo vs. measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (M-M-R-II) and varicel la-zoster virus vaccine (VARIVAX), given at separate anatomic sites at the same office visit; or (2) MMRV, DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and ac ellular pertussis vaccine) and OPV (oral polio vaccine) vs. M-M-R-II, DTaP, and OPV, with VARIVAX given 6 weeks later. All vaccine regimens were generally well tolerated. More than 95% of vaccinees seroconverte d for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella, regardless of the vaccin e or regimen used. In each study, the level of antibody titer to varic ella virus was significantly lower in vaccinees receiving MMRV than in those who received VARIVAX in a separate syringe.