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

• Brief description Posted Sept 2009
  Symptoms, transmission, complications, etc.
• Questions and Answers Updated Aug 2008
• Recent outbreaks April 2011
• Measles: Unprotected Story
  Parents tell true story of how measles sickened their child and impacted their family.
• Pictures of Measles Updated Sept 2009
  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
• Timeline of Measles Disease and Vaccine
  Source: History of Vaccines
• Measles basics
  Fact sheet offers overview of Measles disease and vaccine risks and benefits
  • In English
  • En Español

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.

• Vaccination Options for Preventing Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella
  For Parents and caregivers: Fact Sheet and Q&As Posted Oct 2009
• Measles: Make Sure Your Child Is Fully Immunized
  CDC feature story
• Fact sheet: Measles disease and vaccines
• Measles Vaccination: Who Needs It?
• Measles - Recommendations for Prevention Updated Jul 2008
• Side-effects of MMR and MMRV vaccines
  Excerpt from Vaccine Information Statement
• Vaccine Information Statement (VIS): MMR and MMRV
• Questions and Answers about Measles, the vaccines, and precautions
• State Vaccine Requirements
• History of the MMR vaccine
  National Network for Immunization Information

• Febrile seizures after MMR-DTP vaccinations
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and MMR vaccine

Autism Theory

• Do vaccines cause autism?
• Vaccines and Autism
  National Network for Immunization Information
• MMR vaccine does NOT cause autism: Examine the evidence
  [PDF-71KB - 2 pages]
  Immunization Action Coalition
• Facts for Parents About Vaccine Safety
  American Academy of Pediatrics
• The determinations on serious professional misconduct and sanction in the cases of Dr Wakefield, Professor Walker-Smith and Professor Murch
  Set forth by Great Britain’s General Medical Council, Posted May 2010
• Other scientists have not been able to reproduce the results claimed by Dr Wakefield and his team regarding measles virus
  World Health Organization statement on the use of MMR vaccine 
• Is there any scientific evidence that proves a link between autism & vaccines?
  NIH's National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

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.

• MMR Vaccine Safety Research and MMRV Vaccine Safety
• Multiple or combined vaccines and the immune system
• CDC's Vaccine Safety website
  • concerns | report a suspected vaccine reaction
• Are vaccines safe?
  FAQs on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website
• Lessening the Pain of Vaccines
  Techniques worth trying; on The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia website

• Who should not be vaccinated with MMR vaccine?
• Who should not be vaccinated with MMRV vaccine?
• Pregnancy guidelines

For Health Professionals

For the Media