Are measles vaccines good for life?

Measles vaccine is a vaccine that prevents measles. Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Measles starts with fever. Soon after, it causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out. It starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body.

Measles can be prevented with MMR vaccine. The vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. CDC recommends children get two doses of MMR vaccine; the first dose is generally given to children around 9 to 15 months of age, with a second dose at 15 months to 6 years of age, with at least 4 weeks between the doses. After two doses 97% of people are protected against measles, 88% against mumps, and at least 97% against rubella. The vaccine is also recommended in those who do not have evidence of immunity, those with well controlled HIV/AIDS, and within 72 hours of exposure to measles among those who are incompletely immunized. It is given by injection.

The MMR vaccine is very safe and effective. The use of a third MMR vaccine dose to boost low measles vaccine induced antibodies also does not appear to be effective. A recent study found that administering an additional dose of MMR vaccine in an attempt to boost antibodies in persons in persons found to have low vaccine induced measles antibodies was ineffective, leaving this particular population at risk for developing measles infection.

Types:

Measles is seldom given as an individual vaccine and is often given in combination with rubella, mumps, or varicella.

• Measles vaccine (standalone vaccine)

• Measles rubella vaccine (MR vaccine)

• Mumps measles rubella vaccine, live (MMR vaccine)

• Mumps measles rubella and varicella virus vaccine (MMRV vaccine)

There are 2 vaccines that can prevent measles:

• The MMR vaccine protects children and adults from measles, mumps, and rubella.

• The MMRV vaccine protects children from measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.

Why is the measles vaccine important ?

• Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. If 1 person has it, 9 out of 10 people close to that person who aren’t immune (protected) will also get measles. And it can be dangerous — serious cases of measles can lead to brain damage and even death.

• Measles outbreaks are rare in the United States. But outbreaks can still happen in areas where groups of people don’t get vaccinated. In fact, outbreaks have recently increased around the world in places like Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. Since measles is still common in other countries, people can get the disease when they travel — and spread it to people who aren’t vaccinated when they come home.

• Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent measles. And when enough people get vaccinated against measles, the entire community is less likely to get it. So when you and your family get vaccinated, you help keep yourselves and your community healthy.

• The vaccine is generally safe, even for those with HIV infections. Side effects are usually mild and short lived. These may include pain at the site of injection or mild fever. Anaphylaxis has been documented in about 3.5–10 cases per million doses. Rates of Guillain-Barre syndrome, autism and inflammatory bowel disease do not appear to be increased by measles vaccination.

• The vaccine is available both by itself and in combinations such as the MMR vaccine (a combination with the rubella vaccine and mumps vaccine) or the MMRV vaccine (a combination of MMR with the chickenpox vaccine). The measles vaccine is equally effective for preventing measles in all formulations, but side effects vary depending with the combination. The World Health Organization recommends measles vaccine is given at nine months of age in areas of the world where the disease is common, or at twelve months where the disease is not common. Measles vaccine is based on a live but weakened strain of measles. It comes as a dried powder which is mixed with a specific liquid before being injected either just under the skin or into a muscle. Verification that the vaccine was effective can be determined by blood tests.

• About 85% of children globally have received this vaccine as of 2013. In 2015, at least 160 countries provided two doses in their routine immunization. It was first introduced in 1963. It is on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. The wholesale cost in the developing world is about 0.70 USD per dose as of 2014. As outbreaks easily occur in under-vaccination populations, the disease is seen as tests of sufficient vaccination within a population.

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