A new combined trivalent live measles (AIK-C strain), mumps (Hoshino strain), and rubella (Takahashi strain) vaccine. Findings in clinical and laboratory studies

S. Makino, K. Sasaki, T. Nakayama, S. Oka, T. Urano, M. Kimura, R. Kawana and A. M. Yamamura
Department of Virology, Kitasato Institute, Japan.

Trivalent virus vaccine, containing measles AIK-C strain, mumps Hoshino strain, and rubella Takahashi strain, was administered to a total of 1369 healthy children, 8 months to 18 years of age. For comparative study, monovalent vaccines of AIK-C strain and Hoshino strain were administered to 147 and 122 initially seronegative children, respectively. The clinical and serological responses following vaccination were analyzed. Among the recipients of the trivalent vaccine, 893 were initially seronegative to all three viruses. Inoculation induced sufficient serological responses: 99.7% for measles and rubella viruses and 96.3% for mumps virus. The incidence of febrile reaction (greater than or equal to 37.5 degrees C axillary temperature) was low, 15.9%, and a temperature of 39.0 degrees C or higher occurred in only 1.3% of the subjects. The seroconversion rate, magnitude of antibody titers, and incidence of clinical reactions following the trivalent vaccination were similar to those occurring after the monovalent measles vaccination.