[Various regularities of measles epidemic process during a period of mass vaccination of children].

A detailed epidemiological study of a number of features of measles epidemic process was carried out and the results of examination of 2282 sera from children for measles antibody were analysed. The immune portion in the republic has been brought to 97% (not including infants of the first 10 months of life). The average annual incidence rate of measles has been reduced over 10-fold. The index of the epidemiological effectiveness of the vaccine is 13.8. Sufficiently intensive immunity persists in 90-95% of the vaccinees for 10 years or more without booster. However vaccination against measles cannot eradicate epidemic outbreaks. The remaining portion of susceptible children is sufficient for maintenance of the epidemic process. Periodic rises of the incidence and seasonal variations are retained and increasing. There are no indications for a wide revaccination against measles. A method for detection of non-immune children acceptable for mass surveys is needed. Circulation of a "wild" virus may be conducive to selective formation of insusceptibility in some children remaining non-immune after vaccination.