Measles immunity is waning and the virus is re-emerging in previously measles-eliminated settings such as Aotearoa New Zealand. This project will inform policy and practice in New Zealand by generating knowledge about the waning of measles immunity, the effectiveness of alternative MMR-delivery methods in boosting measles immunity in young seronegative adults previously vaccinated with 2-doses of MMR vaccine, and the antibody responses to aerosolized MMR vaccine (proxy to measles exposure) in seropositive young adults.
Specifically:
- Determining the prevalence and determinants of measles non-immunity in university students who have been screened for vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles.
- Examining the diagnostic accuracy of a locally available test used for screening measles immunity by comparing it with a gold-standard test used internationally.
- Comparing antibody responses to alternate vaccination (aerosol and intradermal) delivery methods with traditional (intramuscular) administration in a randomized-controlled trial.
- Identifying antibody-based correlates of protection against measles using a challenge approach whereby aerosolized measles-containing vaccine (MMR) is used as a proxy for wild measles virus exposure.
The researcher’s overall project is possible by funding from both Te Niwha and the Health Research Council (HRC) New Zealand.
