Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine
The measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine was licensed in 2005 for use among children aged 12 months to 12 years. It is a single shot that can be used in place of two other vaccines administered in two separate shots—the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine and the varicella vaccine for chickenpox.
Before vaccines are licensed in the United States, they are studied in clinical trials. The safety data from these studies are carefully reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After a vaccine is licensed in the United States, both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and FDA play a critical role in assuring the continued safety of the vaccine. These studies focus on MMRV (1 shot) and MMR and varicella vaccines (2 separate shots) given to children 12-23 months of age because this is the age when the first dose of these vaccines is recommended (recommended age for the second dose is 4-6 years).
MMRV Vaccine Safety Studies
- Results from Studies Before MMRV Vaccine Was Licensed
- Results from Studies After MMRV Vaccine Was Licensed
- Information on the VSD MMRV Vaccine Safety Study
- MMRV and Febrile Seizures
More on MMRV Vaccine Safety
- Frequently Asked Questions about Febrile Seizures Following Childhood Vaccinations
- Frequently Asked Questions about Multiple Vaccines
More on MMRV Vaccine
- Fact Sheet for Parents on Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella
- Fact Sheet for Providers on MMR & Varicella Vaccines or MMRV Vaccine
- Frequently Asked Questions for Parents and Caregivers on MMRV Vaccines
- Frequently Asked Questions for Providers on MMRV Vaccines
- Merck Package Insert for ProQuad (MMRV vaccine) [PDF - 681 KB]
Related Scientific Articles
CDC. Update: Recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Regarding Administration of Combination MMRV Vaccine. MMWR 2008 Mar 14:57(10);258-260.
Hornig M, Briese T, Buie T, Bauman ML, Lauwers G, Siemetzki U, Hummel K, Rota PA, Bellini WJ, O'Leary JJ, Sheils O, Alden E, Pickering L, Lipkin WI. Lack of association between measles virus vaccine and autism with enteropathy: a case-control study. PLoS One 2008 Sep 4;3(9):e3140.
Get email updates
To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address:
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348 - New Hours of Operation
8am-8pm ET/Monday-Friday
Closed Holidays - cdcinfo@cdc.gov
