Vaccine
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A two-dose vaccination program against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) viruses was started in Finland in 1982. In this program the trivalent MMR-II vaccine (MSD, USA) was offered to children at the ages of 14-18 months and 6 years followed by revaccination 4-5 years later. The vaccination coverage has been high (97%) and MMR infections have practically been eliminated in the Finnish population. ⋯ The mean antibody titer was significantly (p < 0.05) higher 4 years after the second MMR vaccination when compared with the corresponding time point after the first vaccination. In 6-year-old seronegative vaccinees the increase and decay of anti-mumps virus antibodies after the first MMR vaccination was similar to that seen in the group of younger vaccinees. A two-dose MMR vaccination protocol resulted in a high mumps immunity level in the vaccinated population.