Reference:
Smedman, L., Joki, A., da Silva, A. P., Troye-Blomberg, M., Aronsson, B., & Perlmann, P. (1994). Immunosuppression after measles vaccination. Acta Paediatrica, 83(2), 164-168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.1994.tb13043.x
Summary:
The study investigates the effects of live attenuated measles vaccination on cellular immune responses in children from Sweden and Guinea-Bissau. Sixteen children from each region were assessed before and 8-10 days post-vaccination. Results indicated a significant reduction in lymphoproliferation responses to various antigens, including concanavalin A and tetanus toxoid, particularly in the Guinean children. Swedish children also exhibited diminished responses to PPD and tetanus toxoid. The findings suggest that measles vaccination may lead to temporary immunosuppression, which could explain increased mortality rates observed in children receiving high-titre measles vaccines. This study reinforces the utility of the whole blood thymidine incorporation assay in field settings.