Neurological complications following measles vaccination.

In Hamburg 18 cases of neurological complications following vaccination with live measles virus vaccine (including 2 cases of abortive encephalopathy) have been observed between 1971--1978. A causal connection was assumed in 14 cases, that means an incidence of 1 neurological complication per 2,500 vaccinees and an incidence of 1 abortive encephalopathy per 17,650 vaccinees. These results differ from studies of various countries which used the same vaccine strain (Schwarz). Clinical symptoms, age distribution and incubation period are demonstrated. The prognosis seems to be good; the risk of vaccination compared to the risk following original measles is between 1:10 (convulsions) and 1:18 (encephalopathy).