Immigrant children who enter the United States without immunization records may be required to receive vaccines for diseases to which they are already immune or for which they have previously received immunization. We tested 669 newly arrived refugees (age range, 0-20 years) for antibody to measles, rubella, and varicella, to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies to these diseases in this group of immigrants. Five hundred forty-nine (82%) of 669 patients had antibody to measles, 545 (82%) of 668 had antibody to rubella, and 430 (64%) of 668 had antibody to varicella. Antibody to all 3 diseases increased with increasing age. No clinically significant differences in presence of antibody were noted by region of origin.

[No Keywords available]

Vietnam immigrant antibody production Antibodies refugee human Refugees chickenpox priority journal Yugoslavia United States Humans human tissue antibody detection Adolescent male female Infant Child, Preschool Africa prevalence Article major clinical study adult rubella antibody age age distribution rubella seroprevalence Seroepidemiologic Studies immunization measles measles antibody virus antibody Child