Administration of Enders' Live Measles Virus Vaccine with Human Immune Globulin

The recommended optimal regimen is 1,000 tissue culture doses of virus given into one arm followed immediately by injection of 40 units per pound (88 units per kilogram) body weight of measles antibody in human immune globulin into the opposite arm.

Abstract

Extensive investigations have proved the efficacy and safety of Enders' live measles virus vaccine coadministered with measles antibody in human immune globulin. The recommended optimal regimen is 1,000 tissue culture doses of virus given into one arm followed immediately by injection of 40 units per pound (88 units per kilogram) body weight of measles antibody in human immune globulin into the opposite arm. Either dried or frozen virus can be used. The optimal age for vaccination is considered to be 9 months to 1 year. If vaccination is performed at this age, the required yearly supply of human immune globulin would be about one-fifth of that now being used each year in the United States for attenuation of natural measles in persons known to have been exposed.