From the Guidelines
Measles infection causes long-term immune suppression, but vaccination with the measles vaccine induces long-term, probably lifelong, immunity in most persons. The measles vaccine produces an inapparent or mild, noncommunicable infection, and measles antibodies develop among approximately 95% of children vaccinated at age 12 months and 98% of children vaccinated at age 15 months 1. Although vaccination produces lower antibody levels than natural disease, both serologic and epidemiologic evidence indicate that the vaccine induces long-term immunity, in most persons 1. Some key points to consider about the long-term immune effects of measles and the measles vaccine include:
- Measles vaccine produces an inapparent or mild, noncommunicable infection
- Measles antibodies develop among approximately 95% of children vaccinated at age 12 months and 98% of children vaccinated at age 15 months
- Greater than 99% of persons who receive two doses of measles vaccine develop serologic evidence of measles immunity, if the first dose is administered no earlier than the first birthday
- Vaccination induces long-term, probably lifelong, immunity, in most persons
- Most vaccinated persons who appear to lose antibody show an anamnestic immune response upon revaccination, indicating that they are probably still immune 1. The standard regimen of two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at 12-15 months of age and the second at 4-6 years, is the most effective way to prevent the long-term immune effects of measles and induce long-term immunity. It is essential to note that the evidence from the study 1 suggests that immunity can wane after successful vaccination, but this phenomenon appears to occur rarely and to have little effect on measles transmission and the occurrence of outbreaks. Overall, the measles vaccine is a crucial tool in preventing the long-term immune effects of measles and protecting against the disease.
From the Research
Long-term Immune Effects of Measles
- Measles infection can lead to a prolonged effect on host resistance, extending over 2 to 3 years, resulting in increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections 2.
- The measles virus can cause immunosuppression by depleting B and T lymphocytes, leading to a loss of immune memory and increased vulnerability to non-measles infections 2, 3.
- Measles vaccination can prevent measles-associated immune memory loss, protecting polymicrobial herd immunity and reducing all-cause infectious disease mortality 2, 4.
- Studies have shown that measles infection can eliminate 11 to 73% of the antibody repertoire across individuals, generating potential vulnerability to future infections 3.
- Measles virus infection can diminish preexisting antibodies that offer protection from other pathogens, underscoring the need for widespread vaccination 3.
Immune Response and Vaccination
- Measles vaccination programs have been shown to have direct and indirect nonspecific benefits, including enhancing innate and adaptive immune responses and preventing measles-associated short- and long-term immunomodulating effects 4.
- The introduction of measles vaccines has led to unexpectedly large reductions in all-cause childhood mortality, which can be attributed to both direct and indirect benefits of measles vaccination 4.
- Long-term immunogenicity studies have shown that measles-, mumps, and rubella (MMR)-containing vaccines can induce antibody responses that persist for at least 10 years post-vaccination 5.
- A second dose of MMR vaccine can have a boosting effect on anti-mumps antibody titers and seropositivity rates, but has a minor and transient effect on anti-measles and anti-rubella waning titers 5.