The MMR vaccine is given as part of the routine vaccination schedule for children and in the event of a measles outbreak. There are also several other groups who need to be protected against measles, mumps and rubella.
Children
The first dose of the MMR vaccine should ideally be given to children between 12 to 13 months of age.
Children are given the second booster dose before they start school, usually between three and five years of age, although the second dose can be given three months after the first.
Between 5-10% of children are not fully immune after the first dose. The booster provides increased protection, with less than 1% of children remaining at risk after having it.
Teenagers and adults
School leavers are offered a booster vaccine to ensure that everyone has received both doses. Anyone who missed the first dose can have both doses within a month of each other.
Some adults may not have received full protection due to changes in the MMR vaccine. Those born between 1980 and 1990 may not have received a mumps vaccine, and those born between 1970 and 1979 may only have had a measles vaccine. These groups should be offered the MMR vaccine.
The MMR vaccine can be given at any age and adults may be offered immunisation checks upon entering university, military service or prison.
Anyone who is travelling to an area that is known to have had outbreaks of measles, mumps or rubella should ensure that they are fully immunised.
Pregnancy
Women who are considering becoming pregnant should ask their GP to check whether they are fully immune to rubella by using a simple blood test. Women born before 1988 were only given one vaccination against rubella, compared with those born later who received the recommended two doses of MMR.
Women with a low or uncertain immunity against rubella are routinely offered a single rubella vaccination. However, if a single vaccine is not available, they may be offered the MMR vaccine to provide the immunity they need.
Rubella during pregnancy can cause serious problems in the developing baby. It is recommended that women avoid becoming pregnant for one month after having a rubella vaccination. Pregnant women who were not screened before conceiving and who find out through routine antenatal blood tests that their immunity is low, will be offered a rubella vaccination after the birth of the baby, usually at their six-week postnatal check.
Measles outbreaks
In the event of a measles outbreak, the MMR vaccine can be given to protect people who have come into contact with the condition in the previous three days. This is because measles antibodies develop more quickly following vaccination than they do after a natural infection.
Current advice states that there are no negative effects from vaccinating people who are already immune. For example, if there is any doubt about whether someone has already been vaccinated, there is no harm in them having a booster dose.
