Live Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine Administered Parenterally

Abstract

SummaryA unique live attenuated respiratory syncytial virus vaccine that is administered parenterally is described. Nineteen of 22 initially seronegative children, 7-32 months of age, developed homologous circulating neutralizing antibody against the virus and a portion were shown to have present demonstrable antibody in their nasal secretions. None of the children developed illness that could be ascribed to the vaccine, and there was no evident contagious spread of the vaccine virus to susceptible contacts. The vaccine is of considerable promise and trials to determine protective efficacy are being pursued. Seroepidemiologic investigations revealed that only 33 of 66 children 6-48 months of age and residing in an open population had detectable circulating neutralizing antibody against the virus.