Combined Live Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccines

Combined trivalent Moraten measles, Jeryl Lynn mumps, and HPV-77 duck embryo rubella vaccine, as well as combined bivalent Moraten measles and Jeryl Lynn mumps vaccine were each administered to children in a single injection. The antibody responses to the three viruses were not significantly altered, and the clinical reactions were no greater than those following measles vaccine given alone. Choice of strain was important, since less favorable results were obtained when the original Enders' measles and Merck C level rubella vaccines were substituted for those mentioned previously. Twenty and forty 50% tissue culture infective doses of Moraten measles and HPV-77 duck rubella viruses, respectively, sufficed to immunize all seronegative persons. All the viruses induced persistent antibody and were sufficiently stable on drying and rehydration to permit use in routine practice. Present evidence indicates that the mumps and rubella vaccines may be given together with the measles vaccine in a single dose without impairing the immune response and without added clinical reaction.