The clinical reaction of Nigerian children to measles vaccine with and without gamma globulin

Abstract

1. The severity of measles in infants and young children in Ilesha in Nigeria suggested this as a suitable centre for a trial of measles vaccine.2. The trial was divided into three stages. In the first the vaccine was given to a group of 26 children who could be kept under close observation and were seen twice daily. In the second the vaccine was given to 120 children, a similar group receiving gamma globulin and an inert material. In the third stage the effect of vaccine and gamma globulin given as separate injections to 378 children, was compared with that of gamma globulin and inert material given to another control group. The second and third stages were run on the ‘double blind’ principle.3. The children receiving vaccine alone showed fairly severe reactions but none were disabled by them; for example, 19 % had fever over 103° F. The reactions were similar to those observed in American children, with the one exception that diarrhoea was seen amongst African children receiving vaccine without gamma globulin. Those receiving vaccine and gamma globulin had only minor reactions. In the vaccinated children there was a notable absence of the severe complications seen with the natural disease in Nigeria.4. Children who were well below the average weight for their age and sex in this community did not show more severe reactions than those above the average weight.