This page is about the routine MMRV vaccine for young children. MMRV has replaced the MMR vaccine in the NHS vaccination schedule.
The MMR vaccine is still available for older children and adults born on or before 31 December 2019 who were not vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella when they were younger.
What the MMRV vaccine is for
The MMRV vaccine helps protect against:
These infections spread very easily between people and can lead to serious problems including meningitis, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), pneumonia, and hearing loss.
Who should have the MMRV vaccine
The MMRV vaccine is recommended for young children as part of the NHS vaccination schedule.
The number of doses children are given depends on when they were born. Some older children will have already had 1 or 2 doses of the MMR vaccine which also protects against measles, mumps and rubella, but not chickenpox.
| Who should have it | When it's given |
|---|---|
|
Children born on or after 1 January 2025 |
1 dose given at 12 months and 1 dose given at 18 months |
|
Children born between 1 July 2024 and 31 December 2024 |
1 dose given at 18 months and 1 dose given at 3 years 4 months |
|
Children born between 1 September 2022 and 30 June 2024 |
1 dose given at 3 years 4 months |
|
Children born between 1 January 2020 and 31 August 2022 who have not had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine |
1 dose given sometime between 1 November 2026 and 31 March 2028 – your GP will contact you about this nearer the time |
Babies aged 11 months and under who are at risk from measles
Babies do not usually have the MMRV vaccine until they are 12 months old. But babies aged 6 to 11 months may be able to have an early dose of the MMRV or MMR vaccine if:
- they're travelling abroad to an area where there's a higher risk of catching measles
- they've been in close contact with someone who has measles
- there's an outbreak of measles
Speak to your GP if you think your baby might need an early dose of the MMRV or MMR vaccine.
How to get the MMRV vaccine
Your GP surgery will usually contact you about your child's MMRV vaccinations. This will usually be by letter, text message, phone call or email.
Non-urgent advice: Speak to your GP surgery if:
- your child is due their MMRV vaccine but you've not been contacted to get it
- your child has missed their MMRV vaccine
- your child has a high temperature and is due to have the vaccine – they may need to wait until they're feeling better before having the vaccine
- you need to change a vaccination appointment
Your GP surgery can book or rearrange an appointment.
Advice for parents
Who cannot have the MMRV vaccine
Most children can have the MMRV vaccine.
But it's not suitable for some children because it's a live vaccine, which means it contains weakened versions of the measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox viruses.
The MMRV vaccine is not given if your child:
- has a severely weakened immune system, either because of a health condition or because they are taking medicines that suppress the immune system
- has had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to any ingredients in the vaccine, including gelatine or neomycin
Getting vaccinated if your child is unwell
Your child can have the MMRV vaccine if they're unwell but they do not have a high temperature.
If your child has a high temperature or feels very unwell, wait until they feel better before they have the MMRV vaccine.
MMRV vaccine ingredients
There are 2 types of MMRV vaccine in the UK which work equally well. You can check the ingredients in the patient leaflets:
- ProQuad MMRV vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website)
- Priorix-Tetra MMRV vaccine patient leaflet (Electronic Medicines Compendium website)
The ProQuad MMRV vaccine contains a small amount of gelatine from pigs (porcine gelatine). Speak to the person vaccinating your child if you want your child to have the Priorix-Tetra MMRV vaccine instead.
How the MMRV vaccine is given
The MMRV vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm or thigh. It's usually given at the same time as other routine vaccinations.
Your child will usually need 2 doses for full protection.
Most children have the 1st dose when they're 12 months old and the 2nd dose when they're 18 months old.
Side effects of the MMRV vaccine
Like all medicines, the MMRV vaccine can cause side effects, but not everyone will get them.
Common side effects are usually mild and only last 2 to 3 days. They include:
- a raised, blotchy rash (similar to a measles rash), feeling unwell and a high temperature – this may happen about 6 to 10 days after the vaccination and is not infectious
- swelling around the face and aching in the joints (similar to mild forms of mumps or rubella) – this may happen about 2 to 3 weeks after the vaccination and is not infectious
- a spotty rash in the area where the injection was given (similar to a chickenpox rash) – this may happen about 3 to 4 weeks after the vaccination
The spotty rash may contain infectious chickenpox virus and should be covered with clothes. As long as the spots are covered, children can go to nursery as normal.
More serious side effects, such as a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) are rare. The person who vaccinates your child will be trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
How well the MMRV vaccine works
Protection against measles, mumps and rubella starts within 2 weeks of having the MMRV vaccine. Protection against chickenpox starts within 3 weeks of having the vaccine.
After 2 doses:
- around 99% of children will be protected against measles and rubella
- around 97% of children will be protected against chickenpox
- around 88% of children will be protected against mumps
If your child gets mumps after being vaccinated, the symptoms will usually be much milder