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Article
May 1967

Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Pneumonia Following Measles Vaccination

Author Affiliations

Staten Island, NY
From the departments of pediatrics (Dr. Wilhelm) and pathology (Dr. Paegle), US Public Health Service Hospital, Staten Island, NY.

Am J Dis Child. 1967;113(5):534-537. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1967.02090200066004
Abstract

WITH the development of a safe, effective measles vaccine, it has recently become an accepted and recommended procedure to immunize susceptible children against this disease which can cause significant mortality and morbidity. The live, attenuated measles virus vaccines, derived from the Edmonston B strain and the Schwarz strain, are the vaccines of choice for routine immunization.1,2 These vaccines require only one injection and seemingly confer a lifetime of immunity.3 No serious reaction from the use of these vaccines has been reported, but convulsions secondary to vaccine-induced fever may occur.4 This report describes two unusual complications which followed vaccination with live, attenuated measles virus.

Report of Cases  Case 1.—A 12-month-old white girl received a subcutaneous, live virus attenuated measles vaccine injection (Edmonston strain) with γ-globulin (0.01 cc/lb). Seven days later she became fussy and developed a fever. On the eighth postvaccination day, a hive-like rash developed on the

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