Abstract:
A serological study was carried out in three rural
communities in southern Ghana in order to
determine the optimal age for measles immunization. The live hyperattenuated measles
vaccine (Schwarz strain) was inoculated subcutaneously; into infants aged three to eleven
months. The maternal measles antibodies in the
infants started decreasing after 7 months, while
the seroconversion rate after the immunization
was increasing after 6 months. Forty seven infants were given the measles vaccines at the age
of 7 months. The seroconversion rate was
91.5%. There were no side effects. These results
indicate that measles immunization can be administered effectively at the age of 7 months.