Long-term Dynamics of Measles Virus-Specific Neutralizing Antibodies in Children Vaccinated Before 12 Months of Age
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Controlled Clinical Trial
Journal Article
Article
Journal Article
Article
Language
en
Date
2025-04-30
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Long-term Dynamics of Measles Virus-Specific Neutralizing Antibodies in Children Vaccinated Before 12 Months of Age
Translated Title
Published in
Clin Infect Dis 2025; 80(4):904-910
Abstract
Measles is a highly contagious disease, presenting a significant risk for unvaccinated infants and adults. Measles vaccination under the age of 12 months provides early protection but has also been associated with blunting of antibody responses to subsequent measles vaccinations and assumed to have lower vaccine effectiveness.
Our study included children who received an early measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination between 6 and 12 months of age (n = 79, given in addition to the regular MMR vaccination schedule at 14 months and 9 years) and a group without additional early vaccination (n = 44). We evaluated measles virus (MeV)-specific neutralizing antibodies before vaccination at 14 months and up to 6 years thereafter using a plaque reduction neutralization test according to the standard set by the World Health Organization.
We found a significant association between age of first MMR and MeV-specific neutralizing antibody levels later in life. Although most children who received early vaccination seroconverted after the first dose, children vaccinated before 8.5 months of age exhibited a markedly faster antibody decay and lost their protective neutralizing antibody levels over 6 years.
Routine vaccination of infants under 8.5 months of age may lead to blunted MeV-specific antibody responses to subsequent MMR vaccination. Early MMR vaccination should only be considered during measles outbreaks or in other situations of increased risk of MeV infection. Clinical Trials Registration. EudraCT 2013-003078-28.
Our study included children who received an early measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination between 6 and 12 months of age (n = 79, given in addition to the regular MMR vaccination schedule at 14 months and 9 years) and a group without additional early vaccination (n = 44). We evaluated measles virus (MeV)-specific neutralizing antibodies before vaccination at 14 months and up to 6 years thereafter using a plaque reduction neutralization test according to the standard set by the World Health Organization.
We found a significant association between age of first MMR and MeV-specific neutralizing antibody levels later in life. Although most children who received early vaccination seroconverted after the first dose, children vaccinated before 8.5 months of age exhibited a markedly faster antibody decay and lost their protective neutralizing antibody levels over 6 years.
Routine vaccination of infants under 8.5 months of age may lead to blunted MeV-specific antibody responses to subsequent MMR vaccination. Early MMR vaccination should only be considered during measles outbreaks or in other situations of increased risk of MeV infection. Clinical Trials Registration. EudraCT 2013-003078-28.