Lay summary
The measles mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is currently delivered by intramuscular injection to protect against the measles virus. However, immunity from MMR can wane since childhood vaccination, presenting a risk of measles outbreak in Aotearoa from an imported case. The MAXXED randomised clinical trial (RCT) is investigating measles immunity in young adults and measuring circulating antibody responses to aerosol (inhaled) and intradermal (micro-needle) methods of MMR vaccination. This project has been incorporated into the MAXXED study to identify and measure the additional aspects of mucosal and cell-mediated measles immune responses to MMR within a sub-group of trial participants. Measles antibody subtypes in mucosal fluid samples and measles-specific circulating T cell responses to vaccination will be measured. Comparisons of immune responses amongst the different vaccination methods will provide novel insight into how measles immunity might be enhanced by using alternative methods of MMR vaccination and inform future community vaccination strategies.