  Until the mid 1960s, the UK experienced regular measles epidemics, with the
vast majority of children being infected in early childhood. The introduction
of a measles vaccine substantially reduced its incidence. The first part of
this paper examines the long-term human capital and health effects of this
change in the early childhood disease environment. The second part investigates
interactions between the vaccination campaign and individuals' endowments as
captured using molecular genetic data, shedding light on complementarities
between public health investments and individual endowments. We use two
identification approaches, based on the nationwide introduction of the vaccine
in 1968 and local vaccination trials in 1966. Our results show that exposure to
the vaccination in early childhood positively affects adult height, but only
among those with high genetic endowments for height. We find no effects on
years of education; neither a direct effect, nor evidence of complementarities.

General Economics;Economics