Comparative analysis of immunogenicity between first-dose measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine administration and combined MMR-rotavirus vaccination

Abstract

This study compared the immunogenicity of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine when administered alone versus when co-administered with the rotavirus vaccine in infants aged 8-9 months. In this prospective cohort study, 1,198 infants were enrolled: 800 received combined MMR and rotavirus vaccines (experimental group), while 398 received the MMR vaccine alone (control group). A Hurdle Gamma model analyzed vaccination impact on antibody levels in both groups and the correlation between antibody responses. Geometric mean concentrations of measles, rubella, and mumps IgG antibodies increased significantly in both groups after vaccination. The experimental group demonstrated 209-fold, 25-fold, and 12-fold increases, respectively, with comparable increases in the control group. Hurdle Gamma model analysis revealed significant positive effects of vaccination on all three antibody levels, with no significant differences between MMR-rotavirus combined vaccination and MMR vaccination alone. Random effects analysis showed strong negative correlations for measles and rubella IgG antibodies (correlation coefficients: -1.00 and -0.99, respectively) and a moderate negative correlation for mumps IgG antibodies (correlation coefficient: -0.56). This study represents the first application of a Hurdle Gamma model to compare immunogenicity between standalone MMR vaccination and combined MMR-rotavirus vaccination. The results demonstrate equivalent MMR antibody responses between these two vaccination approaches.

Keywords: MMR vaccine; immunogenicity; rotavirus vaccine; separate vaccination vs. combined vaccination.