The MMR vaccine is a powerful tool to prevent three highly contagious viral diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles). Thanks to the MMR vaccine, introduced in 1963, these serious illnesses are much less common today than they once were.
Overview What It Is What Is the MMR Vaccine? The MMR vaccine is an injection, usually given in the upper arm. Two doses (shots) are needed for full protection. It is a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains living but weakened viruses that are not strong enough to cause disease. They teach the immune system to recognize and fight the actual viruses if the body is exposed to them in the future.
Why Get the MMR Vaccine? Why Get It The MMR vaccine protects against a trio of illnesses that can cause severe and in some cases life-threatening complications. Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. If one person has it, up to 9 out of 10 people nearby will catch it unless they are vaccinated.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294bb48e63-4fe6-492e-b0f2-d0e48b4e8c93 Possible complications include pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294bb48e63-4fe6-492e-b0f2-d0e48b4e8c93 From 2000 to 2023, measles vaccination saved an estimated 60 million lives worldwide.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294271c46d-31f5-4cb9-a89d-c81f51dae715 Mumps, known for painful swelling of the salivary glands, can result in hearing loss and infertility. Rubella, also called German measles, is generally mild in children but can lead to birth defects in babies if a pregnant person gets sick. Vaccination not only protects you, it also protects vulnerable people around you.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762977a3ca89-a798-44a2-852d-6b56ed1bc36d
Who Should Get the MMR Vaccine? Who Should Get It The MMR vaccine is recommended for everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated or had these diseases. This includes:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295fcd0f52-6ade-44f8-8f33-75da9105159d Children: All children need two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose given at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Students at post-high school educational institutions: Those who don’t have presumptive evidence of immunity (see definition below) need 2 doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Adults: People who don’t have presumptive evidence of immunity should get at least 1 dose of the MMR vaccine. Some individuals should get two doses, separated by at least 28 days, if they are entering a situation where they face a heightened risk of measles or mumps transmission. This includes students at post-high school educational institutions; healthcare personnel; and international travelers. International travelers: The CDC recommends the following vaccination schedule. Infants Babies ages 6 through 11 months should get one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one at 12 through 15 months of age and another separated by at least 28 days). Children It’s advised that children 12 months of age and older receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days. Teenagers and Adults Those who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days. Healthcare personnel: Healthcare workers who don’t have presumptive evidence of immunity should get two MMR vaccine doses, separated by at least 28 days. Women of childbearing age: Women should check with their healthcare provider to make sure they have presumptive evidence of immunity before getting pregnant. Women of childbearing age who do not have presumptive evidence of immunity and are not pregnant should get at least 1 dose of the MMR vaccine. Groups at increased risk of mumps during a mumps outbreak: During a mumps outbreak certain groups of individuals at increased risk of mumps transmission (perhaps because they may be living in close quarters with someone who has mumps, for instance) may need an extra MMR vaccine dose. What Is Presumptive Evidence of Immunity? Presumptive evidence of immunity can be established in any of the following ways:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b3aa34c1-7a64-40f8-905b-44e362a9c639 Written documentation of having had the vaccines Lab evidence of immunity Lab confirmation of the disease Birth year before 1957
Who Shouldn’t Get the MMR Vaccine? Who Shouldn’t Get It Some health conditions or other risk factors make a live virus vaccine like MMR unsafe.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629172e8f7e-e0fe-4f77-99df-e963c44bf709 Pregnancy The MMR vaccine is not advised during pregnancy. If you plan to get pregnant, talk to your provider about getting the MMR vaccine before you conceive. Immunosuppression People who have a weakened immune system or are otherwise immunocompromised should not get the MMR vaccine. Family History of Immune Issues Anyone with a parent or sibling with a history of immune system issues is not a candidate for this vaccine. Certain Health Conditions The MMR vaccine is not safe for people with a history of any condition that causes bleeding or bruising. Recent Blood Transfusion People who have received any recent blood product should avoid the MMR vaccine, usually for at least three months. Tuberculosis Severe Allergic Reactions People who have had an allergic reaction to any component of the MMR vaccine, including gelatin or neomycin, should not receive it. Recent Vaccinations People who received any other vaccination in the past month should wait to get the MMR vaccine. If you’re unsure whether the MMR vaccine is right for you or your child, talk to your healthcare provider.
Types of MMR Vaccine Vaccine Types Two MMR vaccines are available for use in the United States, M-M-R II and PRIORIX. They are fully interchangeable. The MMRV vaccine protects against varicella (chicken pox) as well as measles, mumps, and rubella. It is an option for children 12 months through 12 years of age.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976295c8be8ec-ab64-403f-8e50-ef9607112249
How Well Does the MMR Vaccine Work? Effectiveness Full immunization with two doses the MMR vaccine is 97 percent effective at preventing measles and rubella and 88 percent effective at preventing mumps. Inadequate levels of vaccination at the community and national level can threaten so-called herd immunity. For measles, preventing outbreaks requires that at least 95 percent of the population get both vaccine doses. There were an estimated 10 million cases of measles worldwide in 2023, a 20 percent increase from 2022, due to inadequate immunization coverage. Globally, only 3 in 4 children received the recommended second dose of the MMR vaccine needed for full protection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629e3708f29-1fc4-42e6-bdc8-d90ed551da86
How Long Does the MMR Vaccine Last? How Long It Lasts People who receive both doses of the MMR vaccine according to the recommended vaccination schedule are usually considered protected for life against measles and rubella.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292452bc76-b042-4a6d-9718-dfb4d75ea839 Immunity against mumps may decrease over time, however, and some people may no longer be protected against mumps later in life. These individuals should talk to a healthcare provider about getting an additional vaccine dose in the event of a mumps outbreak. Do Adults Need a Booster Shot? In general, adults who have had two doses of the MMR vaccine as children do not need a booster shot. It’s very rare to get measles if you’re fully vaccinated. If you are vaccinated and get the measles, it’s more likely to be a mild case. But if you’re unsure about your vaccination history or immunity status, ask your healthcare provider whether you need a booster shot. There aren’t significant risks to receiving an extra dose.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629aecfe4ab-5448-4c51-b067-ac3f8b171c73 In the event of a mumps outbreak, you may need an additional dose of the MMR shot.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976292452bc76-b042-4a6d-9718-dfb4d75ea839
Side Effects of the MMR Vaccine Side Effects Like all vaccines, the MMR vaccine can cause side effects , but they are usually mild and short-lived. Possible side effects include: Arm pain from getting the shot Fever Mild rash Temporary joint pain and stiffness (mostly in teenage or adult women) More rarely, people may experience swelling in the cheeks or neck. These side effects typically go away within a few days.
Is the MMR Vaccine Safe? Safety Serious complications from the MMR vaccine are extremely rare. These include: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) The MMR vaccine can cause a temporary low platelet count, which can cause immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). This bleeding disorder usually goes away without treatment in children, but can become chronic in some adults. Febrile Seizures Studies have shown that there is a small increased risk of febrile seizures (convulsions caused by a fever) in children under 7 years old about 8 to 14 days after vaccination. This happens in about 1 out of every 3,000 to 4,000 children.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cee61947-4309-423b-ab99-ab5aa7d136ed A child should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible after a febrile seizure. If the child also has a stiff neck, is vomiting, has breathing problems, or is extremely sleepy, call 911.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290cae2a09-9980-4876-b5ef-13faf7c88daa Measles Inclusion Body Encephalitis In extremely uncommon cases almost always involving people with weakened immune systems, someone who contracts the wild-type measles virus may develop this kind of severe brain swelling. There have been three published reports of vaccinated people developing this condition, with one traced to the measles vaccine strain itself.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cee61947-4309-423b-ab99-ab5aa7d136ed Anaphylaxis People may experience a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in response to a component in the vaccine. If you experience any serious changes after vaccination, like trouble breathing or swelling of the throat, seek medical attention immediately. If you have concerns about vaccine side effects or allergies, discuss them with your healthcare provider.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cee61947-4309-423b-ab99-ab5aa7d136ed
Does the MMR Vaccine Cause Autism? Autism Fears The claim that the MMR vaccine causes autism is based on flawed, discredited research and has been thoroughly debunked by multiple studies. The controversy began with a 1998 study by the English scientist Andrew Wakefield, published in the medical journal the Lancet, which suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. But the Lancet later retracted the study due to serious scientific misconduct on Wakefield’s part, including misrepresentation of data.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762999367056-6de4-4fcb-9ee9-1034ca20adcc Dozens of recent and well-designed studies have refuted this connection.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ee836b43-3d2d-4a8a-91b8-c72610d6c7dd One of the largest which included over 500,000 children found that the risk of autism was the same in both vaccinated and unvaccinated children.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629cdfb94fe-f388-489d-b9b6-4dbeea4ba89c
Can the MMR Vaccine Give You the Measles? The MMR vaccine cannot give you measles. The vaccine contains weakened forms of the living viruses, but they are not strong enough to cause disease.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629457fbc6e-d13e-49fa-95cf-56b196dbc526
MMR Vaccine Cost and Insurance Coverage Cost Most insurance plans, including Medicaid, cover the full cost of the vaccine. All health insurance marketplace plans cover certain vaccines, including the MMR vaccine.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296de727c2-2650-484e-aefb-d8bdba98d794 If you don’t have insurance, you may also be able to get the vaccine for free at local health clinics or through programs that provide vaccines to uninsured or underinsured individuals. Eligible children who aren’t covered by health insurance can get no-cost vaccines at the CDC program Vaccines for Children (VFC).e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e59762937ec5667-e305-4da3-87c5-2dfa66c2153a If you don’t have insurance or qualify for assistance, the cost of the MMR vaccine will vary depending on where you receive it.
Where to Get an MMR Vaccine Near You You can get the MMR vaccine at many healthcare providers’ offices, pharmacies, and local health departments. Visit Vaccines.gov to find a location near you.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291c6f5bca-7048-48b7-9494-3358ab6fac5e
The Takeaway The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, all of which can cause severe illness. The vaccine is recommended for nearly everyone, with a two-dose schedule for children and certain adults. Large-scale studies have proven that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Serious complications from vaccination are rare.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Virus Vaccine Live (Subcutaneous Route, Intramuscular Route)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should KnowCleveland Clinic: MMR VaccineYale Medicine: MeaslesChildren’s Hospital of Philadelphia: Vaccines and Autism
