In 1989–91 anti-measles vaccination campaigns were conducted
in several Italian regions to
vaccinate all children aged between 13 months and 10–12 years without
a history of measles or
measles vaccination. This study was conducted to evaluate serological status
after the mass
vaccination campaigns. In 1994, capillary blood samples were collected
from randomly selected
children, aged 2–14 years, living in 13 local health units. Antibody
titres were determined by
ELISA. Blood spot samples were analysed for 4114 (75·6%) of 5440
selected children. Among
the 835 that reported measles before 1990, 806 (96·5%) were immune
and of the 2798
vaccinated, 2665 (95·2%) were immune. The Edmoston–Zagreb
(E–Z) strain vaccine was
associated with a lower level of immunity than the Schwarz (SW) strain.
A history of measles
identified almost all immune children. Vaccination with the SW strain conferred
persistent
immunity (at least 5 years) in 98% of vaccinees. The strategy was able
to unite natural and
induced immunity.