Welcome to the Vaccines and Immunizations website.
Skip directly to the search box, site navigation, or content.

Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Vaccines & Immunizations

Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:

Vaccination Options for Preventing Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella

There are two options for protecting children who are 12 months through 12 years old against measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and varicella (chickenpox):

  • Getting two shots: the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine AND the varicella vaccine
  • Getting one shot: the measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine

These links provide information to help parents and healthcare providers decide which option to use:

For Parents:
For Healthcare Providers:

top of page

ACIP Recommendations
Vaccine Information Statements

top of page

This page last modified on May 25, 2010
Content last reviewed on May 6, 2010
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Quick Links

Also Known As & Abbreviations

Safer Healthier People

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A
Public Inquiries: 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636); 1-888-232-6348 (TTY)

Vaccines and Immunizations