COMPARATIVE TRIALS OF RA 27/3 AND CENDEHILL RUBELLA VACCINES IN ADULT AND ADOLESCENT FEMALES

Fogel, A. (Virus Lab., Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel), A. Moshkowitz, L Rannon and Ch. B. Gerichter. Comparative trials of RA 27/3 and Cendehill rubella vaccines in adult and adolescent females. Amer J Epidem 93: 392–398, 1971.—Two rubella vaccines, RA 27/3 and Cendehill, were compared with respect to their immunogenicity and side effects in a group of 259 adult female volunteers. The clinical reactions observed were in general mild and not disturbing for the vac-cinees, the most frequent side effect being lymphadenopathy. Mild joint symptoms occurred in some vaccinees over 22 years old given RA 27/3 vaccine intranasally and almost exclusively among those vaccinated during winter months. Some of the vaccinees excreted the vaccine virus, but no spread to close family contacts was observed. The antibody response was more rapid following vaccination with RA 27/3 as compared to Cendehill vaccine, the former giving a higher percentage of neutralizing antibodies as well as higher geometric mean titers of HI antibodies early following vaccination. At 7 months after the immunization practically no differences were found in the persistence of antibodies in both groups. One year following vaccination with RA 27/3 vaccine all 20 persons tested had neutralizing antibodies as well as high titers of HI antibodies.