Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Measles Vaccination
Pronounced (MEE-zills)
Measles is the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses. The disease spreads very easily, so it is important to protect against infection. To prevent measles, children (and some adults) should be vaccinated with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of this vaccine are needed for complete protection. Children should be given the first dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age. The second dose can be given 4 weeks later, but is usually given before the start of kindergarten at 4 to 6 years of age.
What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
For the Media:
2009 Measles Update - Measles remains a common disease in many parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 10 million people worldwide are affected by measles each year. It is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable deaths among young children. Measles outbreaks are common in many areas, including Europe. Although the risk for exposure to measles can be high for many U.S. travelers and citizens living in other countries (expatriates), the illness can be prevented by a vaccine. Some examples of current measles activity include recent outbreaks in the United Kingdom and Burkina Faso. Additional details on the Travel Web site. Updated July 27, 2009
What You Should Know
- Brief description
Symptoms, treatment, transmission, etc. - Questions and Answers (Updated August 2008)
- About measles and measles vaccination
(.pdf, 34 KB, 2 pages)
Parent's Guide to Childhood Immunization (screen-reader version)
(.rtf, 29 KB, 2 pages) - Pictures of Measles
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic. - Travelers information
Information and updates on risks for travelers, precautions, prevention, etc. - Global measles disease
Goals and global elimination
Measles can be prevented by the combination vaccine: MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella). In 2005, a combination MMRV (measles-mumps-rubella-varicella) vaccine was licensed.
- Measles: Make Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized
Feature story - Do I need this vaccine?
- Measles - Recommendations for Prevention (Updated July 2008)
- Side Effects of MMR vaccine
Excerpt from Vaccine Information Statement
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Ask the Experts: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition) - Questions and Answers about Measles, the vaccines, and precautions
- School Vaccine Requirements
- History of the MMR vaccine
National Network for Immunization Information - Decision
Aid: Considering MMR vaccination for your child?
An aid developed in Australia
Autism Theory
- MMR vaccine and autism theory
- Does
MMR vaccine cause autism? Examine the evidence
Immunization Action Coalition - Other scientists have not been able to reproduce
the results claimed by Dr Wakefield and his team
regarding measles virus
WHO statement on the use of MMR vaccine - Is there any
scientific evidence that proves a link between
autism & vaccines?
NIH, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - More...
As with all vaccines, there can be minor reactions, including pain and redness at the injection site, headache, fatigue or a vague feeling of discomfort.
- Are
vaccines safe?
FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website - Multiple or combined vaccines and the immune system
- CDC's Vaccine Safety website
- Hot
Topics
Vaccine safety topics on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website - Lessening the Pain of Vaccines
Techniques worth trying; on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website
- What if we stopped vaccinating for this disease?
- Who should not be vaccinated with MMR vaccine?
- Pregnancy guidelines
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on Measles
- Technical information
General description, incidence, complications and subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) - MMR Clinical questions and answers
- Ask the Experts
CDC experts (medial officers, medical epidemiologists, etc.); on the Immunization Action Coalition website - NIPINFO Answers Your Questions about MMR
- Proper handling of MMR vaccine
Vaccine Recommendations
- ACIP recommendations
- Measles official recommendations
Immunization Action Coalition - Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations (Posted July 2008)
- Standing Orders
Immunization Action Coalition - Contraindications
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
Precautions and use during outbreaks - Immunization of Healthcare Workers
References and Resources
- Related MMWR articles, links, and references
- More MMWRs on MMR
- Resources
- Pink Book's chapter on Measles
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Surveillance manual's chapter on Measles
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Global measles
- Travelers Health: Yellow Book
Provider Education
- 2009 Clinical education slide set
[PDF - 130KB] UPDATED May 2009
From the 11th edition "Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases" course - Podcasts
Materials for Patients
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Important facts for parents to know about the MMR vaccine
- Stories of people who suffered or died from vaccine-preventable diseases
- Measles: Questions and Answers
Ready-to-print versions of one of the CDC-reviewed Q&A material located on Immunization Action Coalition's website. Dated 2/07. - Sarampión - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen (Spanish materials)
For the Media
- CDC Press Release: Most U.S. Measles Cases Reported Since 1996 (Many Unvaccinated Because of Philosophical Beliefs) Posted August 2008
Links to non-federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the federal government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.
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Content last reviewed on August 21, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases