LIVE POLIO IRUS VACCINES

Immunization of Newborn Infants with Live Attenuated Poliovirus Vaccine 321
ORAL POLIOVIRUS VACCINATION
OF NEWBORN INFANTS
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVEL OF MATERNAL ANTIBODY
AND EVIDENCE OF ANTIBODY RESPONSE AT 3 MONTHS AFTER FEEDING
ON BASIS OF FEASIBLE CRITERIA
I00 -
100
ulI
U)
o
(1"
90-
80-
70-
'O
13 20
29
- 90
-80
-70
m
60-
27
49
-60
z
50-
-50
I-
40o-
15
45
40
z
u
w
3 -
20-
8
39
-30
-20
lo-
- 0
16 32 64 128 256 512 -7 1024
RECIPROCAL OF CORD BLOOD ANTIBODY TITER
FIG. 1. Relationship between level of maternal antibody and antibody respol.se in 224 newborn
infants three months after oral poliovirus vaccination.
of active antibody formation, while in others
it was either absent or still masked by high levels
of residual placentally transmitted antibody. At
the present time it seems wise to await the results
of further antibody tests at six months of age and
of studies on intestinal resistance and antibody
response to reinfection, before reaching any decision
about the use of live poliovirus vaccine
during the first days after birth. One thing, however,
is already clear: that monovalent rather
than trivalent vaccine will have to be used, and
the Type 1 should therefore be the first to be
administered.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
We are indebted to Dr. Gordon W. Douglas,
Professor of Obstetrics, New York University
School of Medicine, Dr. Harold Jacobziner, Assistant
Commissioner of Health, and Dr. Morris
Greenberg, Director, Bureau of Preventable
Diseases, New York City Department of Health,
for their help and cooperation.
REFERENCES
1. Sabin, A. B.: Status of field trials with an
orally administered live attenuated poliovirus
vaccine. J. Am. M. Assn. 171: 863-868 (Oct.
17) 1959.
2. , Krumbiegel, E. R., and Wigand, R.:
ECHO Type 9 virus disease. Am. M. Assn. J.
Dis. Child. 96: 197-219 (August) 1958.
3. -- : Unpublished data.
4. Gelfand, H.: Personal communication (Unpublished
studies).