Background: Mumps outbreaks in populations with high 2-dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine coverage raise the question whether a third dose of MMR vaccine (MMR3) is needed. However, data on the immunogenicity of MMR3 are limited. We assessed mumps virus neutralizing antibody levels pre- and post-MMR3 in a nonoutbreak setting.
Methods: Mumps antibody titers were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 1 year after MMR3 in subjects aged 18-28 years.
Results: At baseline, 5 of 656 (0.8%) subjects had seronegative mumps neutralizing antibody titers and 38 (5.8%) had low titers. One year post-MMR3, these numbers declined to 3 (0.5%) and 16 (2.4%), respectively. Subjects with low baseline titers were more likely to have low 1-month and 1-year titers (R (2) = 0.81-0.87, P < .0001). Compared to baseline, geometric mean titers were significantly higher at 1 month (P < .0001) and 1 year (P < .01) post-MMR3; however, reverse cumulative distribution curves showed only minimal shifts in mumps titers from baseline to 1 month and 1 year.
Conclusions: Very few subjects had negative or low baseline mumps titers. Nonetheless, mumps titers had modest but significant increases when measured 1 month and 1 year post-MMR3. This temporary increase in titers could decrease susceptibility to disease during outbreaks, but may have limited value for routine use in vaccinated populations.
Keywords: immunization; mumps; mumps immunogenicity; third-dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine; vaccine-preventable disease.